The meaning of the lyrics of the song "Sky Blue Sky" by the artist "Wilco"

Wilco's "Sky Blue Sky" is a tapestry of contrasts and ambiguity, painting a picture of decay and hope, decline and acceptance.

The first verse opens with a parade – vibrant yet impersonal ("a tune I couldn't place"), perhaps signifying the lyrical protagonist's detachment from the surrounding scene. The opening windows and the influx of colors might symbolize the arrival of something new. However, the colors themselves evoke a melancholic autumn, hinting at a sunset rather than a sunrise.

The second verse deepens the sense of decay. "Drunks," "old main drags," "windows busted out" – all contribute to the image of a desolate, forgotten place. "Dreams" leaving what was once home could speak to a loss of illusion, a disillusionment.

It is at this point that the "sky blue sky" enters – a symbol of hope and constancy against the backdrop of transience and ruin. The chorus, repeated twice, emphasizes its significance. The "rotten time" doesn't seem so bad because the protagonist is alive, and that is what truly matters. In this simple affirmation lies an acceptance of reality, however bitter it may be, and a search for solace in the elemental things, such as the clear sky above.