When I See Stars, That's All They Are

...that's a line from "Some Nights," by fun. I've had it on repeat for the past three days.

Like their other big hit, it's about being young. Obviously, right. But to me, it's also a song about not being so young any more. About being in your 20s. Maybe your late 20s. Nate Ruess, the lead singer of fun., is the same age I am. When he sings the chorus... it's  the same question asked by any guy becoming a man:

What do I stand for?
What do I stand for?
Most nights, I don't know anymore...

My last post was about the male myth of the Badass, and the video makes it even more clear Ruess is singing about that ache for moral clarity and strength. Check it out: a skinny kid with perfect hair dressed up in a Civil War uniform playing at courage & purpose, rallying the guys from down the block, "This is it boys, this is war!"