| Of Monsters And Men – Dirty Paws Lyrics | 12 years ago |
| This interpretation makes sense. The viking settlers would have been aware of bees from Scandanavia using honey to brew mead. So this song could be a parable on why no bees. It could also be on the terrible winters of the Little Ice Age from 1350 to 1900 and the importance of adaptability to winter conditions as in dirty paws = arctic fox. | |
| Of Monsters And Men – Dirty Paws Lyrics | 12 years ago |
| I read it as a parable about the Little Ice Age in Iceland with major deforestation. Little Paws = Arctic Fox, a symbol of winter adaptability. A story with a message to tell children. | |
| Of Monsters And Men – Dirty Paws Lyrics | 12 years ago |
| Yes, my intuition made me think this was some kind of parable that metaphorically describes some environmental catastrophe and how it was dealt with. Iceland was once well forested, but human deforestation, and 650 years of the Little Ice Age plus bursts of volcanic eruptions decimated the forests, and also killed half the population. Icelanders cherish their forests now. Little paws = Arctic fox, a symbol of adaptability for surviving the long winter periods of the Little Ice Age. | |
| Of Monsters And Men – Dirty Paws Lyrics | 12 years ago |
| I think Dirty Paws = Arctic fox. Largest mammal native to Iceland before settlement. But I think the meaning is more metaphorical than your explanation, quite likely a parable to explain to children. | |
| Of Monsters And Men – Dirty Paws Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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It is the story of how arctic fox (dirty paws) helped restore balance and adaptability to the world long before our time. It is a parable on cooperation and working together to overcome adversity. How we are all part of nature subject to it's primal forces, such as the climate change of the Little Ice Age. I equate Dirty Paws with Arctic Fox, as it is the largest mammal native to Iceland when viking settlement occurred 1140 years ago or so. The settlers brought with them horses from Scandinavia and a Norse culture of storytelling, and I think parables would be part of that. When Iceland was first settled it was extensively forested, but human settlement and volcanic activity has caused major deforestation, as well as climatic deterioration during the Little Ice Age, which lasted in Iceland from 1258 to 1900. In fact this could be a cultural parable for explaining the little ice age and destruction of the forests of Iceland. Iceland lost half its population during these years — and the population was forced to adapt their food sources to survive. The Arctic fox and other winter creatures would be powerful symbols of survival and adaptability. Verse 1: A child playing, pretending to be an animal There once was a horse who had a foal who grazed on the grass. It was a fine foal They were friends with a dragonfly, a timeless magical creature of summer that connects to the natural world in this and other times, that returned to tell this story Verse 2: It is the story of Arctic Fox who ran down into the forest, the magical forest of talking trees which used to sing about the balance of nature, between creatures. The bees represent imbalance, they want to take over the skies The birds seek help from Arctic Fox and the winter creatures. To restore balance cooperation was necessary Verse 3: Arctic Fox invokes the cold of winter to fight the bees, but winter is always hard on all creatures. The Green forest is destroyed and turned black by the bees in revenge But the Arctic Fox and the creatures of winter eventually defeat the leader of the bees and her soldier bees That is the story of how Arctic Fox restored balance to the world |
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