"Today bright Phoebus she smiled down on me for the very first time..."

Lal Waterson's song seems to refer to the sun, and the album sleeve also suggests this. However Phoebus was another name for the Greek sun god Apollo, and male. So was this a simple mistake on Lal's part, perhaps thinking of the woman's name Phoebe (a different classical reference), or a feminist statement, or something else?

I've just received a newsletter from the Sheffield Bright Phoebus club with this phrase as its tagline, and it never fails to irritate my inner pedant. Great song though.