Help: 'The Unquiet Grave'

Subject: 'The Unquiet Grave'
From: Mad Maudlin
Date: 27 Oct 01 - 09:28 AM

I've just played "The Unquiet Grave", and one of the verses suddenly struck me as odd. (Never had thought about it before...)It's the following one:

o give me water from the desert
And blood from out of a stone
And give me milk from a maiden's breast
That a young man never has known.

In the version I know this verse comes after the one where the ghost tells her, "and if you kiss my clay-cold lips, your tíme it will not be long".

What I'm wondering about is, will he come back to life (as a revenant, most likely, like the sons of the Wife of Usher's Well) when she gives him all those things, or is this just the ghost's way of saying, "Forget it"?

Looking forward to your comments and ideas!

"Mad"

Subject: RE: Help: 'The Unquiet Grave'
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 27 Oct 01 - 10:01 AM

It's just a standard list of impossible things.  Your second guess is the one to go with.

Subject: RE: Help: 'The Unquiet Grave'
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Oct 01 - 10:10 AM

It would be a misreading to apply what we know about science today to the words of old songs. There are flaws here, in that deserts DO have water, and producing milk has been shown to be something that can be separated hormonally from the process of pregnancy. But the reference, at the time this song evolved, is generally to things that were culturally considered impossible. She's wishing for the impossible, as you say, and this is his way saying "forget it." They must operate within the boundaries of what they believe to be true.

Subject: RE: Help: 'The Unquiet Grave'
From: Big Tim
Date: 27 Oct 01 - 11:08 AM

Great song which ever you see it. Joan Baez's recording has been sending shivers up my old spine since 1965.

Subject: RE: Help: 'The Unquiet Grave'
From: Mad Maudlin
Date: 27 Oct 01 - 01:56 PM

Thanks for your input! I thought that it would be the second possibility but wanted to make sure. Big Tim, my spine is a few years younger, but the chills are no doubt the same...

Subject: RE: Help: 'The Unquiet Grave'
From: Mad Maudlin
Date: 27 Oct 01 - 01:58 PM

Whoops...I meant "shivers". Forgive an ignorant foreigner. :-)