I'll start this by saying that I know this isn't what this song means. Sometimes it doesn't matter what all the words say or what the really mean. Some part of a song will speak to me, bring an image to mind that transcends the song itself and tells a story of the soul. Dustland Fairytale by The Killers became an instant favorite of mine. It's a beautiful tribute to Brandon Flowers' mother who has cancer.
The metaphor of Cinderella holds more.
The image of the beautiful fairytale princess is one of hope. She is a kind and compassionate character. From the first time you meet her, you suspect she deserves far more than what she has. Cinderella is a fairytale we all need to believe in at some point. She's worked hard, been good. We need to see her sparkling and dancing with Prince Charming.
In the song, the party is over, and Cinderella is getting ready for bed. Meanwhile, the Devil is suiting up for a fight. He's ready to come out when Cinderella goes to sleep. Without Cinderella, the land becomes desolate. No wind, no bells, no birds. Without Cinderella, the good girl, the world becomes a place where the good girls die.
Hope exists, compassion and kindness exist because Cinderella exists. She is what makes them possible. We need her, and the end of the song is our pleading for her to stay awake, stay in per party clothes. Keep the magic in the midnight sun.
We all need hope, kindness and compassion, but just like they only exist in the fairytale because Cinderella brings them to life, they will only exist in our tale if we bring them to life.
We all must hope. We must be kind. We must show compassion. Or they will all disappear to the land of fairytales.
A Dustland Fairytale beginning
Just another white trash county kiss
In '61, long brown hair, foolish eyes
He looks just like you'd want him to
Some kind of slick chrome American Prince
A bluejean serenade, and moon river, what you do to me
I don't believe you
Saw Cinderella in a party dress
But she was looking for a nightgown
I saw the devil wrapping up his hands
He's getting ready for the showdown
I saw the minute that I turned away
I got my money on a palm tonight
Change came in disguise of revelation, set his soul on fire
She says she always knew he'd come around
And the decades disappear like sinking ships
But we persevere, God gives us hope
But we still fear what we don't know
The mind is poison
Castles in the sky sit stranded, vandalized
Drawbridges closing
Saw Cinderella in a party dress
But she was looking for a nightgown
I saw the devil wrapping up his hands
He's getting ready for the showdown
I saw the ending where they turned the page
I took my money and I ran away
Straight to the valley of the great divide
Out where the dreams are high
Out here, the wind don't blow
Out here, the good girls die
And the sky won't snow
Out here, the birds don't sing
Out here, the fields don't grow
Out here, the bell don't ring
Out here, the bell don't ring
Out here, the good girls die
Now Cinderella, don't you go to sleep
It's such a bitter form of refuge
Oh don't you know, the kingdom's under siege
And everybody needs you
Is there still magic in the midnight sun
Or did you leave it back in 61?
In the cadence of a young man's eyes
I wouldn't dream so high
