| Emilie Autumn – Ghost (Poem) Lyrics | 14 years ago |
|
I'm using this poem for a project in my philosophy class, and I needed to somehow connect the theme of this song to the concept of "freedom". Here is my interpretation, with regards to freedom: The subject of the poem is growing up within a time in which marriages are often planned. Gentlemen are brought to the house to meet with a young lady, and the "best" pick is usually based upon money or other factors, which may or may not include the lady's opinion of the man. The young lady doesn't want much more than a companion in her life. She isn't looking for a lover, or someone to hold her hand and provide comfort; she wishes for a man who will join her for tea and listen to her stories, someone to tell her jokes and sing her to sleep every night. What she wants is a friend, but none of the men that she is forced to meet with can fit that category, since "one cannot both be a gentleman and a trusted friend". Within her own mind, she escapes from this reality by creating a companion for herself. Because any gentleman that would be allowed in her house could not be a companion to her, she made him a ghost, simply because a ghost wouldn't have to follow the same rules, as the lady would be the only one to see him. In this way, she is free. Despite the reality that has been made for her, she manages to be happy with what she has and what she has created. She wonders if she is the only one that the ghost has visited because she feels that there are many other young ladies looking for the same "friend", and they provide themselves with one. This can show that the "ghost" isn't thought of by the lady as an actual entity, or even an imaginary one; instead, the ghost is merely symbolizing the freedom one has to create a reality within their own. Finally, she fears that the ghost will leave because she might one day find the whole idea childish, and the notion may fade, along with her only friend. |
|
| Emilie Autumn – Mad Girl Lyrics | 14 years ago |
|
I also listened to TOC, which helped me sort out more of what this song might mean. She mentioned that, when she wrote it, she wasn't intending for it to relate to Ophelia from Hamlet; when she listened to it later on, however, she realized that there was a definite connection between the two. A few days ago, I went to one of her live concerts and had VIP tickets, so, being in the front row, I could see every emotion on her face as she played this song near the end of the show. When she came to the part that went "How did your father die? Was he a good man?", I noticed that there was a subtle shake of her head, as if she was saying that he wasn't. It was barely visible, but when put alongside the emotion in her voice and the more hopeful tone that she had when singing "Maybe someday, you'll know", I remembered that her father had died of lung cancer a few years ago, in 2006, if I'm correct. On one of her forum posts regarding her father's death, she mentions that he wasn't a very close father, and that his attitude towards anyone, even Emilie, was cold and rather distant. She mentions that he wasn't a bad man, but it can be implied that he wasn't considered to be a good one, either. Lastly, I find it strange that these connections can be made, since she made this song well before her father's death, but perhaps her own interpretation has changed from what it was originally, as she made the connection between the song and Ophelia's story, and also the later possible connection between the song and her own personal life. This, of course, is just what I've noticed, but is there anyone else who thinks the same as me? --Vivian Erikson |
|
* This information can be up to 15 minutes delayed.