I was from the east coast. He was from west coast. We met in a restaurant in Hershey PA in 1968. He watched me from across the room. Then he came to my table and introduced himself. We saw each other every year for 2 weeks for 17 years. We never saw each other or spoke again. The last thing I said to him before he left for the last time was, "Can I ask you something?". He said yes. I said when you go home, whenever there's a harvest moon, will you look up at it...

I was from the east coast. He was from west coast. We met in a restaurant in Hershey PA in 1968. He watched me from across the room. Then he came to my table and introduced himself. We saw each other every year for 2 weeks for 17 years. We never saw each other or spoke again. The last thing I said to him before he left for the last time was, "Can I ask you something?". He said yes. I said when you go home, whenever there's a harvest moon, will you look up at it and think of me and I'll look up it and think of you. For the rest of our lives? He said yes. I said, do you promise? He said, "I promise". He told me he loved me. I told him I loved him...with all my heart. And I walked away.

I found out this past March that he died three years ago. I found his grave and placed flowers. I was driving back from the cemetery and was searching for a local radio station because I forgot to renew Sirius XM. They played "Harvest Moon". First time I had ever heard the song. My career was law enforcement. Never had much time to listen to music. Worked round the clock for many years. Anyway I had to pull over and stop the car when I heard the lyrics. Because I couldn't breathe and drive at the same time. Call me crazy but I think he was communicating with me through Harvest Moon. Never again in my life will I be so deeply touched by any song Just wish I could somehow personally thank Neil Young.

To me this song is about a relationship built on fantasy more than reality. The Hip is from Kingston and I went to Queen's University. Post-graduation, I fell for a guy in that town. The Hip seemed to become a meaningful band, to where if we heard them we'd think of each other. There is a mural in downtown Kingston on the waterfront - I don't know if it's still there - that has the opening lyrics to this song painted on it. Me and that guy, I think, genuinely cared a lot about each other. But looking back, I...

To me this song is about a relationship built on fantasy more than reality. The Hip is from Kingston and I went to Queen's University. Post-graduation, I fell for a guy in that town. The Hip seemed to become a meaningful band, to where if we heard them we'd think of each other. There is a mural in downtown Kingston on the waterfront - I don't know if it's still there - that has the opening lyrics to this song painted on it. Me and that guy, I think, genuinely cared a lot about each other. But looking back, I think things were kind of doomed from the start. I think we both inadvertently ended up hurting each other because we held on to the fantasy. Two people who really care about each other but circumstances had other plans. We ultimately couldn't get on the same page - and probably disappointed each other. I was the kind of person who, through losses, led with the notion that life is short and to not let good things get away. It's a tough pill to swallow that life doesn't always work that way - some things come down to other factors or right timing and you can't just will it to work out - no matter how hard you try. That's just life sometimes, we can't control it, and I guess that's what makes it even more precious when two people choose each other and can remain together.

So this has been.my favorite song of OTEP's since it came out in 2004, and I always thought it was a song about a child's narrative of suffering in an abusive Christian home. But now that I am revisiting the lyrics, I am seeing something totally new. This song could be gospel of John but from the perspective of Jesus. Jesus was NOT having a good time up to and during the crucifixion. Everyone in the known world at the time looked to him with fear, admiration or disgust and he was constantly being asked questions. He spoke in "verses, prophesies and...

So this has been.my favorite song of OTEP's since it came out in 2004, and I always thought it was a song about a child's narrative of suffering in an abusive Christian home. But now that I am revisiting the lyrics, I am seeing something totally new. This song could be gospel of John but from the perspective of Jesus. Jesus was NOT having a good time up to and during the crucifixion. Everyone in the known world at the time looked to him with fear, admiration or disgust and he was constantly being asked questions. He spoke in "verses, prophesies and curses". He had made an enemy of the state, and believed the world was increasingly wicked and fallen from grace, or that he was in the "mouth of madness". The spine of atlas is the structure that allows the titan to hold the world up. Jesus challenged the state and in doing so became a celebrated resistance figure. It also made him public enemy #1.
All of this happened simply because he was doing his thing, not because of any agenda he had or strategy. And then he gets scourged (storm of thorns) There are some plot holes here but I think it's an interesting interpretation.

I think the 3rd part of the chorus, where it says "you can fit me inside that necklace you got when you were sixteen" means death, as a Locket normally holds a small picture, a necklace is a placeholder for other things, such as a watch, ring, or a small urn for a loved one's ashes, I think this is the reason because a lot of people whose loved ones are cremated, will place a small part of their ashes into a necklace, meaning that the dead loved one is always near the living one's heart, this is also strengthened...

I think the 3rd part of the chorus, where it says "you can fit me inside that necklace you got when you were sixteen" means death, as a Locket normally holds a small picture, a necklace is a placeholder for other things, such as a watch, ring, or a small urn for a loved one's ashes, I think this is the reason because a lot of people whose loved ones are cremated, will place a small part of their ashes into a necklace, meaning that the dead loved one is always near the living one's heart, this is also strengthened for me because of the last lines "hearing you whisper through the phone, wait for me to come home" it's no longer the guy saying to wait, but rather the girl, I believe "home" is in fact heaven in this case.