"Winter Coats" by Better Than Ezra appears to capture a sense of nostalgia and longing for a simpler time. The lyrics take us through a series of images and experiences that evoke a feeling of melancholy and reflection.

The opening lines, "Discarded, left behind / Paper-cups and sour wine / Candlewax, tablecloth / Try to wash it won't come off," set the tone for the song. These seemingly mundane objects represent remnants of past experiences that are difficult to forget or move on from. The use of imagery such as "Ticket stubs and movie scenes / Dustin Hoffman has gangrene" adds a touch of dark humor and suggests that even iconic figures can be subject to decay and fading memories.

The chorus, "In winter coats / In winter lives are falling fast in line / The words make sense / But they don't seem to rhyme," speaks to the theme of time passing and the weight of responsibilities and missed opportunities. The winter coats symbolize protection and insulation from the cold realities of life, while also hinting at the need to shield oneself emotionally.

The verses continue to explore the contrasts between fleeting moments of joy and the inevitable passage of time. Lines like "Rising tide, ocean breeze / Crashing waves, asking please" evoke a sense of the transient nature of experiences and the longing for a renewal or escape.

The repetition of the phrase "Well, I'm going home / When I find the girl / Makes me forget / What I should have done" suggests a desire for solace and emotional connection, possibly searching for someone who can provide comfort and distract from past regrets.

Overall, "Winter Coats" appears to be a reflection on the bittersweet moments of life, the inevitability of change, and the complexities of finding peace and resolution in one's experiences. It implies that no matter how much time passes or how we try to protect ourselves, the puzzle pieces of life may never fit together perfectly, as represented by the line "The words make sense / But they don't seem to rhyme."