| The Decemberists – I Don't Mind Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| At any rate, I know there's this folktale the last verse might be referring to. In this folk tale, a king orders that all old people of such an advanced age must be taken into the mountains/forest to die, as not to be a burden on the rest of the populous. So a son, obeying the king, carries his mother on his back into the forest to leave her. As he is walking he notices that his mother is breaking branches above them. When he asks her why she replies that it is so he does not loose his way on the way back home and assures her son that she is not bitter at him for leaving her to die because he is only doing his duty to the king. The son is overcome by his mother's concern and kindness and instead of killing her, hides her. I can't remember what happens next, I probably heard this story when I was seven or so. | |
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