‘Ready to Start’ by Arcade Fire delivers a narrative of personal awakening and dissent against conformity. The song confronts societal expectations and the pressure to adhere to them while voicing a longing for authenticity. The protagonist seems to be breaking free from the constraints of others' demands and the draining effects of a corporate environment to embark on a new beginning on their own terms.
The song opens with a feeling of resignation and defeat, as the 'businessmen are drinking my blood,' symbolizing exploitation and the draining of vitality by commercial forces. This sentiment resonates with the disillusionment often felt by creative individuals in the face of commercialism or exploitation. The mention of art school peers suggests a background where idealism meets harsh reality.
As we move through the song, there's a push and pull between subjection to fear, boredom, and the desire to belong ('If I was scared, I would...'), weighed against the protagonist's assertion of independence ('... but I'm not'). The emotional journey progresses from a state of reluctant compliance with societal norms to a dawning realization that the protagonist does not fit these molds and is not owned by anyone else.
By the second verse, there is a growing sense of awareness and critical observation. The protagonist references 'the emperor wears no clothes,' alluding to the Hans Christian Andersen tale in which pretension and collective denial are exposed by a child's innocent truth. They recognize the pretense yet also understand the human need for connection and companionship, even if it means compromise.
The song's climax comes in the chorus when the protagonist asserts, 'Now I'm ready to start,' reminiscent of a turning point or epiphany. It's a declaration of readiness to confront the unknown and a refusal to be overshadowed by someone else's 'song,' indicating that the protagonist has chosen the uncertainty of individuality over the comfort of conformity.
"The businessmen are drinking my blood"
Represents the feeling of being exploited or drained by a corporate or conformist society, potentially reflecting the band’s views on the music industry.
"Like the kids in art school said they would"
Art school is often stereotypically associated with idealism and non-conformism; this line hints at the disillusionment encountered when one leaves the idealistic environment and faces the realities of a commercial world.
"All the kids have always known / That the emperor wears no clothes"
A direct allusion to 'The Emperor's New Clothes,' this line emphasizes the theme of seeing through societal facades and the delusions of authority or popularity.
"I would rather be alone / Than pretend I feel alright"
Expresses a preference for solitude and authenticity over feigning contentment in unsatisfying social situations.