The song says there are two paths, but it’s never too late to change the road you’re on. So maybe when our separate paths lead us out of childhood, our roads will converge, and we’ll be together again. I listen very hard and press my hand against the wall.
This imagery describes the current situation of the girl and her brother, who are in two separate paths, and the girl's hope that their paths can meet in the future to see each other again.
I lie on my back, hands laced behind my head and eyes closed because I know that’s exactly what he’s doing. Sometimes he knocks on the wall, and I go to his room, and he shows me the records
This imagery shows how the girl looks up to her older sibling and tries to imitate a lot of what he does. She seems fascinated my her brother's music records, as she goes to him room to see them whenever her brother knocks on the wall.
I lie on my bed and close my eyes and think if I keep listening to this one song at some point he’ll be listening too.
This imagery shows the readers how important music is for her and especially her brother. Music helps them bond together and just the thought that they might both be listening to "Stairway to Heaven" at the same time is comforting to the girl.
I know there’s supposed to be a backwards message and that it’s supposed to be evil but I don’t believe it. I think the messages are not hidden but that people fear what they don’t understand. I don’t understand either, but I’m not afraid.
This imagery explains how you shouldn't be afraid of what you don't know, and that the unknown isn't always evil. The meaning behind this could be that just because her brother has left home and not even the police know of his whereabouts, doesn't mean that he is off to doing something harmful in secret. Even though the girl doesn't understand why her brother is gone, she isn't fearful, but hopeful to meet him in the future.
My bed is against the wall and at night I can hear him listening to his music. He listens on headphones but the volume’s so loud I hear everything: the tinsel rain of cymbals and urgency of words. The music is hard and heavy with lyrics like poetry; he calls it heavy metal.
This imagery vividly describes heavy metal music. It uses phrases like "the tinsel rain of cymbals" and "urgency of words" to describe the music's tempo. The imagery also contrasts how loud and chaotic the music is compared to how light and poetic the lyrics are.