Meaning of "Ten Second News" by Son Volt

The lyrics of "Ten Second News" by Son Volt seem to reflect on the impermanence of emotions and events in life. The mention of finding importance in what one feels and the idea that things arrive and disappear suggest the transient nature of human experiences. The reference to driving down a highway known for cancer and a beach waiting to happen implies a sense of danger and inevitability that hangs over life despite its fleeting nature. The imagery of the county line and how news travels slower than a ten-second buzz speaks to the isolated and slow-paced life in rural areas, where things may take longer to reach and affect people. The reference to billboard signs, scorching, drowning, and the levee gates hint at a sense of overwhelm and helplessness in the face of external forces and circumstances. The repetition of "only you'll ever know" emphasizes the idea that individual experiences and struggles are often internalized and kept hidden from the outside world. Overall, the lyrics of "Ten Second News" invite contemplation on the ephemeral and uncertain nature of life, the struggle to find meaning and understanding in it, and the personal, solitary journey of navigating through it.