The Days Of The Phoenix Lyrics Meaning

This is my personal interpretation.

Verse 1:
"I remember when I was told of story of crushed velvet,
candle wax, and dried up flowers"
He reminiscing of the days when he was younger. These days he was told stories of the death of king (crushed velvet - in the old days velvet symbolized nobility), a loving father (candles symbolize wisdom and love) and death (dried up flowers.) I personally think he is talking about the father, the son, and the holy spirit.

"The figure on the bed all dressed up in roses, calling Beckoning to sleep, Offering a dream"
He is recalling a figure (perhaps a sculpture or painting) lying on a bed of roses. Maybe this figure is a martyr because roses are a symbol of martyrdom. Or maybe it is Mary of Guadalupe. The figure seems to be asleep but is holding up a gesture (beckoning) offering hope. Or perhaps a promise.

"words were as mystical as purring animals"
The words in the stories were spiritually mysterious, like the purring of an animal is mysterious and beautiful.

"The circle of rage,"
The stories he heard demonstrated God's wrath over and over again. Perhaps he is speaking of the old testament.

"The ghosts on the stage appeared"
When hearing these stories, he could visualize a scene like a play. The ghosts are the characters in the bible.

"The time was so tangible, I'll never let it go"
This time he is reminiscing about was so dear to him, that he'll never let it go.

"Ghost stories handed down, reached secret tunnels below, No one could see me"
The stories of the past have been handed down to him and they reached a place in his heart that no one can see or get to.

Chorus:
"I fell into yesterday, Our dreams seemed not far away"
He remembers the days of the past, his dreams back then seemed possible.

"I want to, I want to, I want to stay. I fell into fantasy"
He wishes he can keep that state of mind that he had back then. Like back in the day when his imagination had no limits. Maybe he is stating that he no longer believes the stories because he lost his imagination. However, he wishes he could still believe.

Verse 3:
"The girl on the wall always waited for me, And she was always smiling"
There was a picture on the wall back then. It was of a girl and she was smiling. It was a picture that he could always look towards for hope. Perhaps the martyr or Mary of Guadalupe that he spoke of previously.

"The teenage death boys, The teenage death girls"
Young men, young women. Their teenage years were coming to an end (teenage death). So maybe he is reminiscing about his late teenage years, 16, 17 or 18 years old.

"And everyone was dancing"
Back then, they were always were happy and cheerful.

"Nothing could touch us then, No one could change us then"
Nothing could change their minds then. Nothing could change their spirits.

"Nothing could hurt us then, No one could see us then"
No matter what people said about them, they did not care. No body could see who they really were nor could they judge them. They were innocent.

Song Title:
"Days of the Phoenix"
The phoenix symbolizes re-birth or renewal. He is recalling the days before his re-birth. The days he went from a teenage boy to a man.