The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #103495   Message #2111137
Posted By: Big Mick
25-Jul-07 - 03:16 PM
Thread Name: Harris and the Mare - murder or not?
Subject: RE: Harris and Mare - murder or not?
petr, are you reading the lyrics? Or just commenting without full attempt to understand the tale? The second half of the first verse establishes that she is just passed out with the following:

.......For the wife is in a swoon, and I am all alone
Harris, fetch thy mare and take us home


The song goes on to establish that the antagonist was acting far outside the bounds of established manners, suggesting he would take the woman home and have his way with her, the inference that he was making untoward references about her, and she responded by slapping his face, a typical response to ungallant behaviour. He then pushed further the norms of acceptable behaviour by knocking her out with a blow. The protagonist (Conshie, or Concientious Objector, and a pacifist under normal circumstances) then reacted to the outrage by going after the bad guy in defense of his lady, and in response to real physical harm done to her as opposed to a slap that she had delivered. In the brawl the antagonist ends up with his own knife in his belly.

And you must know that a TRAP simply refers to a two wheeled, horse drawn cart.

Anyone playing a version of this song?

Mick