Meaning of "Letter Home" by Defiance, Ohio

The lyrics of "Letter Home" by Defiance, Ohio carry a strong sense of longing for home and a desire for peace in a time of war. The reference to children shooting fireworks and lovers getting drunk on the roof of an underground grocery store creates an atmosphere of celebration and youthful rebellion. The narrator expresses their wish for their hometown to "stop this stupid war," indicating a sense of frustration and a longing for a resolution to the conflict. The line about burning draft cards suggests a form of protest and resistance against the war. The mention of an epic poem with Grendel as the hero and Gilgamesh finding a new home far from violence and false ideals of chivalry adds an element of literary and mythological reference, further highlighting the narrator's desire for a different, more peaceful world. The lyrics also touch upon the struggles of everyday life, with lines about rising rent and the pressure to conform to societal expectations. Despite these challenges, the narrator finds solace in simple joys, as seen in the reference to graffiti depicting birds and the mention of Emily Dickinson and the possibility of creating personal prairies even without natural elements. The lyrics conclude with a sense of hope and resilience, emphasizing the constant motion of the world and the ability to find new places of belonging and inspiration.