The song starts with a line that has become one of the most memorable in rock: "And the sign said, 'Long-haired freaky people need not apply."
By starting with the word "and," we feel we are picking up on a story, and it's clear that that the singer had put a lot of thought into this. The first line is a classic tale of how looks can be deceiving, as the difference between an "upstanding man" and a hippie can be something as superficial as hair.
The next line finds the singer looking at a "no trespassing" sign and questioning its authority. This resonates with anyone who has seen beautiful beaches, vistas, and other points of nature marked as private property, often with no one there to enjoy it.
We then enter a private club with a strict dress code, and we hear the line most willful wanderers have been confronted with: "You ain't supposed to be here."
Finally, we end up in church, which brings God into our story. If ever there was something that is open to all, it is God, but even in church, a donation is called for. At this point, our hero turns to the tables and makes his own sign, thanking God for the wonder of life.
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I don't know because I never saw them live in concert, but might they have used a different phrasing in the line "Blocking out the scenery?"
--RoadSigns
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