Well, regardless of what you think of the war itself, the song has everything to do with soldiers, though it could be interpereted in several different ways.

Their destination, though it is iraq, is unknown and uncharted to the soldiers--they don't know really if they will win or lose but they are fighting for a cause they truly believe in. A destination is a state of mind as well as a physical thing here.

As for the red dress, it is a dream, of loved ones back home--a wife of spouse most prominently, but dreams needn't be so concrete and unambiguous. It could be a dream for a peaceful Iraq or for their own children. Whatever ya want really, all ya need to do is "close your eyes" and even though you are at an infinite distance mentally and physically, you keep on going, you keep on going (heh).

And yeah, obviously, I'll go the distance is chord change is fantastic as it alters the song's dreamlike verses with a powerful finish of determination. Like war.

The neverending story could be the endless wars of the ages which are inevitable crossed with the love for his wife, which is undying. It is a beautiful weaving of the topics, in a simple rose-outside-your-window kinda way

"Don't let it die" the symbolism here coinsides perfectly with love and war, you can figure that out.

Plus, Richie has said that while writing the guitars for the song, a soldier going off to war was exactly what he was invisioning for the guitar riffs.


So, anyway, it can be interpereted perfectly with this as much as any rock song could.

Now whether or not rock songs should be 'mixed' in general is a whole 'nother topic, but just to hear The Distance on the radio should be enough for any fan to enjoy.

off to bed

B