Reading through this thread has helped my understanding of this beautiful song a little. So much symbolism indeed and clearly referring at least in part to Christ (Don't tell me the '2,000 years and pondering his death eternally' are accidental or incidental?). I seem to remember that Jesus himself has been called the bright blue rose among the snow (Most precious of all flowers? Snow = purity?) although I cannot quite yet recall precisely why. Like many splendid poems interpretation is in the eyes and ears of the beholder.

I picked up this song from a CD made by Karl Byrne who plays at the Tolbooth pub at Glasgow Cross. Never heard it before but it's now being added to my band's repertoire.