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"But we sure know how to run things" and "you know we're on each other's team" means that reality - for all its warts - can still provide happiness and true friendships / love. "Cities you'll never see onscreen" and "ruins of a palace within my dreams" both refer to a reality that is not as pretty as life as portrayed in the media. but it also implies that we should eventually leave the pretending behind and grow into our own skins. don't dance and tell" means nobody calls out anyone else for having gone through that awkward phase. with big eyes" refers to the awkward teenagers trying to pretend to be the cool adults they admire in the media, but also seeing clearly that every other teenager still just as awkward as they are. while he glows" refers to the teenage girls trying to figure out their feelings for boys who they had previously thought of as just friends. their skin in craters" are pimply teenage boys. between teeth" are teenage girls dressed up but still wearing braces. send the call out" refers to teenagers coming of age and starting to gain access to experience the *real* world. and also (hopefully) finding out that real life isn't necessarily bad compared to a constant struggle for an unattainable ideal.
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General CommentThis is about teenagers coming of age and finding out that portrayals of life & love in the media are prettier and shinier than reality. I'm kind of older than I was when I reveled without a care I'm kind of over gettin' told to throw my hands up in the airĪnd everyone's competing for a love they won't receive Livin' in ruins of a palace within my dreams Not very pretty, but we sure know how to run things We live in cities you'll never see on-screen