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28 Feb 01 - 12:07 PM (#408018) Subject: Interpretation of the scarecrow? From: GUEST,shady lady Does anybody have an idea what the song "The Scarecrow" by Lal Waterson (from "Bright Phoebus")is about? |
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28 Feb 01 - 06:01 PM (#408315) Subject: RE: Interpretation of the scarecrow? From: Sorcha Lyrics are in DT if anybody wants to go have a look. Sounds to me like a young girl looking for a young lover, but all she can find is a scarecrow, an old man and group of soldiers tying a baby on a stake, so she gives up and dies.........(suicide). Corn is often a fertility symbol..... |
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02 Mar 01 - 04:38 AM (#409338) Subject: RE: Interpretation of the scarecrow? From: GUEST,shady lady Thanks Sorcha! THat sounds quite plausible to me! Maybe some other opinions? Here are the lyrics: The Scarecrow As I walked out one summer's morn' I saw a scarecrow tied to a pole in a field of corn. His coat was black, his head was bare, And as the wind shook in the crows took into the air. Ah, but you'd lay me down and love me, Ah, but you'd lay me down and love me, if you could. For you're only a bag of rags in an overall THat the wind sways so the crows fly away and the corn can grow tall. As I walked out one winter's day, Isaw an old man hanging from a pole in a field of clay. His coat was gone, his head hung low, till the wind flung it up tro look, wrung its neck and let it go. How could you lay me down and love me How could you lay me down and love me now. For you're only a bag of bones in a overall that the wind blows and the kids throw stones at the thing on the pole. As I walked out one fine spring day, Isaw twelve jolly dons dressed out in the blue and the gold so gay and to a stake they tied a child newborn, and the songs were sung, the bells were rung, and they sowed their corn. Now you can lay me down and love me, now you can lay me down and love me if you will for you're only a bag of rags in an overall but the wind blew and the sun shone too and the corn grew tal.
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02 Mar 01 - 06:31 AM (#409374) Subject: RE: Interpretation of the scarecrow? From: The Crazy Bird Ay, it's a haunting text, this. I disagree with Sorcha's interpretation, but I'm only speaking from my ingnorance. To me it seems that speaker in the song is a woman who is rejecting the attentions of men, for they, in the end are all scarecrows, young and old alike -- they would all lay her down, but they are all bags of bones. The scary part to me, is the twelve jolly dons all "dressed out in the blue and gold. Blue and gold is the color of the Swedish Crown. In the 16th. century Sweden took the southern tip of what is now Sweden (Skaane) from the Danes. There was a resistence among the pepole living there to being under the Swedish king. The resistance was beaten down over a generation and became quite brutal. The soldiers in 'blue and gold' would execute the "snap-hane" they captured by impaling them upon a long spike stuck in the ground -- the spike went up along the spine and they were left to die. The enigma is in the twist in the last chorus -- for now they may lay her down -- for they are only bags of bones, but is it acceptance, or will they kill her also? But, it may have something to do with fertility rites, as Sorcha suggested. rgrds CrzyBrd |
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02 Mar 01 - 09:16 AM (#409450) Subject: RE: Interpretation of the scarecrow? From: GUEST,Dita (at work) It seems to me that the song is about natures cycle of birth - life - death -rebirth - life - etc. The rites of spring in many early peoples inculded "sex in the feilds" to ensure a bountiful crop. Whatever, it is a magical mystical song. love, john |