They kept her as long as they could
Because they knew when the white brother found
White shell beads wrapped around her
Skin a life giving river
Her body open as will his hand
With a goodbye there she goes
And even wait for their savior to come
And in some things, maybe he'll be right
But as always the thing that he loves
He will change from her sunrise, to clockwise, to soul trading
Still she'll lay down her body
Covering him all the same
(the red road carved up by sharp knife)
She's a girl out working her trade
And she loses a little each day
To ghetto pimps and presidents
Who try and arouse her turquoise serpents
She can't recall what they represent
And when you ask, she won't know
And even wait for their savior to come
And in some things, maybe he'll be right
But as always the thing that he loves
He will change from her sunrise, to clockwise, to soul trading
Still she'll lay down her body
Covering him all the same
(Do you remember?)
You won't, even you
(When the land held your hand)
Oh Virginia
You won't, even you
(When the land held your hand)
Oh, Virginia
(She will let you back in)
You won't, even you
(Do you remember?)
Oh, Virginia
You can’t remember you name
I think this song is about the land that is America, the actual continent itself, the people that have inhabited it... and the bloody history that is has suffered through. From the slaughter of Native Americans and the European take over - "the Red Road carved up by Sharp Knife" (the bloody trail of war and Inidian blood that lead to their takeover) - to the present day - "ghetto pimps and presidents."
The Native Americans who wanted to make peace - "She may betray all that she loves" (America, as the Native American people, betray themselves) - and the broken promises of that peace made by the white man - "But as always, the thing that he (the white man) loves he will change from her sunrise, to clockwise, to soul trading (the white man's back and forth attitude about assuring the Native Americans their homes, peace and freedom... the things they love changing from peace to want of the land they promised away.)"
The song is aptly named, because Virginia was the first state (where all the conflict and change began,) and it is a feminine name, thus bringing in more connections to the usually female associated Earth/land (Gaia, etc.) The name, obviously, also has a virginal meaning; the land that is America was a clean virgin while in the hands of the Native Americans, and when the white man came, they "raped" the land for all it's worth.
The lines "Oh, Virginia, you can't even remember your name" and "And she loses a little each day, to ghetto pimps and presidents, who try and arouse her turquoise serpents... She can't recall what they represent, and when you ask, she won't know." are about what has come of the white man's take over and how America can't seem to find it's true identity or even its former self when the Native Americans lived with the earth. It's like asking what it was all for, and was the end result worth it? Filled with people with little respect for the planet and the land (America) that they live off of... where corruption and greed is in both (political corruption and greed/self-interest with presidents, greed for sex and money with ghetto pimps) ends of the "social spectrum," and Virginia can no longer find meaning in these things that make her up because it's hard to tell what is truly "good" and "evil." The lines "Oh Virginia, do you remember when the land held your hand?" go back to when Virginia (America/the Native American people) knew who she was and she lived simply with the earth. Now, Virginia can't remember her old name that was given to her before the white man came, the names also representing who "she is/was."
Phew, sorry about the length. But, this song is definitely one of my favorite Tori song's ever.
As with the rest of 'Scarlet's Walk' (the album), I think this song has (at least) a dual subject of the "character" of the land and the (again dual) "character" of (American Indian) Scarlet/(American musician) Tori, and where Tori came from and where Virginia/Scarlet went. Kagerou sums up the song pretty well as I hear it, but there is one particular line that I just made sense of and so I figured I'd stop in and drop a comment about it.
As with the rest of 'Scarlet's Walk' (the album), I think this song has (at least) a dual subject of the "character" of the land and the (again dual) "character" of (American Indian) Scarlet/(American musician) Tori, and where Tori came from and where Virginia/Scarlet went. Kagerou sums up the song pretty well as I hear it, but there is one particular line that I just made sense of and so I figured I'd stop in and drop a comment about it.
For years, I've wondered what the "turquoise serpents" represent. In my creative...
For years, I've wondered what the "turquoise serpents" represent. In my creative writing MFA program, we learned that great Modernist novelists experiment with subject and form, but in order to be effective, the work itself is imbued with instructions on how to read and understand what is being read. That's how Tori Amos's music is written: "turquoise serpents" has always been a stand-out image for me, and clearly the term turquoise can be easily related to American Indian culture. Since the song is set in the 'lush Virginia hills,' I thought the turquoise serpents may be the rivers of the Virginia mountains--and I think they are, if you are reading the song as being about the Earth itself--but as I am from the hills of Northern Virginia myself, I've never seen turquoise waters within the state--or anywhere north of Florida. So what is it?
I also puzzled for quite a long time about Tori's song "Strong Black Vine." I heard the song as a sexual metaphor the first few lessons--the image of the vine and the line "submission is my mission/for a strong black vine," but that idea doesn't follow throughout the song. I believe I read on here people describing the song as being about ayahuasca, which I have since learned is a decoction made from a boiled black caapi vine and another plant that activates its hallucinogenic qualities. OK, that made sense in the context of being 'Abnormally Attracted to Sin.' I moved on. But now we have 'Night of Hunters,' in which Tori sings "from ivy leaves/there is an ale that can unveil/the hidden meanings and serpents/only revealed through visions." This is another reference to ayahuasca, plainly and clearly--and in case it seems like that can't be the case since Night of Hunters is set in Ireland and not Central or South America, she carefully followed 'Battle of Trees' with the song 'Cactus Practice,' which is also geographically out of context in the album.
So what is the point of all of this? I think that Virginia, and Strong Black Vine, and Battle of Trees all are strong examples of how Tori Amos's writing is far more complex than it ever comes across on its surface; it is never nonsense, and almost without exception, her words should be understood to mean more than one thing at any given time. She's a poet who writes in layers and who is always teaching something--something of a spiritual nature most of the time.
Amos has spoken frequently about having spent time with shamans in Central or South America when she was younger. Her songs Datura, Father Lucifer, and the ones being discussed here all relate back to those experiences, and she means them to be taken seriously. 'Battle of Trees' is very much about the living spirits that were imbued in the ancient Celtic tree alphabet, and likewise, 'Virginia' animates the American land with living spirit. Still, it is easy to overlook the specifics in Amos's lyrics where they may seem just generally metaphoric--'turquoise serpents' is the prime example to me.
I've never taken ayahuasca or any other hallucinogen (but now I admit I have a strong desire to try the 'strong black vine'), but I have been reading a lot about it lately, and it's really a fascinating substance. People who drink it--practiced shamans and people who have zero idea what to expect--almost always relate stories of fluorescent colors, bright light, and very often report frightening snakelike creatures that somehow impart a deep wisdom of reality and are able to convey a sort of meaning of life to people. The people of the Western Amazon believe that the plants around them are alive and intelligent, and in particular they believe that the caapi vine (used to make ayahuasca) is a godlike teacher and that its mother is an anaconda or a boa constrictor. Shamans move back and forth from this reality to the 'hallucinated' one, which they believe is as real as our lives here on sober Earth. These brightly colored snakes have to be the turquoise serpents--the teachers from the other realm/dimension/whatever--who Virginia has forgotten once she gave herself over wholly "from sun wise to clockwise to soul trading" to the Europeans. "Virginia" tells the story of the loss of that sacred knowledge and wisdom and understanding of what we are doing here on this planet, "Strong Black Vine" is a sort of instruction manual for getting spiritual seekers back there, and "Battle of Trees" is Tori and the "Tori" of 'Night of Hunters' going back to a pivotal time when mankind (or at least the Celts) lived in harmony and cooperation with the natural world, and then that was taken away from them by the church.
Nobody wants to read all this I know, but the more I think about what I've learned because of Tori Amos's enigmatic but ingeniously written lyrics, I just get hungrier and hungrier for more.
Well, I read this, ArtistLike, as well as Kagerou's explanation and I loved it. It describes the song perfectly to me in words I would never be able to find for it :)
Well, I read this, ArtistLike, as well as Kagerou's explanation and I loved it. It describes the song perfectly to me in words I would never be able to find for it :)
wow i am so blown away by your incredible insight. Of course you are right about the link to naive americans and Virginia the location. I understood that the Girl's name and the state were Tori's intentional interplay. But I completely missed the link between the virgin and mother earth. It dramatically transforms the tone of the entire piece for me: This is a song about loss of innocence and the virgin must try to find her identity to regain that innocence. Thank you so much for your wonderful posting. If you are a true Tori fan you'll appreciate why...
wow i am so blown away by your incredible insight. Of course you are right about the link to naive americans and Virginia the location. I understood that the Girl's name and the state were Tori's intentional interplay. But I completely missed the link between the virgin and mother earth. It dramatically transforms the tone of the entire piece for me: This is a song about loss of innocence and the virgin must try to find her identity to regain that innocence. Thank you so much for your wonderful posting. If you are a true Tori fan you'll appreciate why this means a lot to me: Tori is always referencing the virgin in her work and here it was yet again. 'she will supply' in professional widow, i know she will remember her name even after the ghetto pimps and the corrupt presidents ... i just know!!! :)
this is clearly about exploitation of the Native Amaerican culture told through the story of Pocahontas (and i mean the real Pocahontas, not some crappy Disney version), there's no question about it. at least the lines "still she'll lay down her Body /covering him all the same" strongly suggest it, and it shouldn't be unclear to anyone familiar with her story.
I think this the metaphorical story of Pocahontas Pochantas and what has become of her heirs.
Women from back in the days of plantation slaves and voodoo, to working girls today who use their sexuality as their magick ... I think it's about remaining true to the pagan religion of the earth, especially as a female, because you're inherently more in tune with it ... shrug eloquence is lost on me. The song has such great imagery, though.
@darkspot I like this, especially insofar as I also like and VERY much agree with the commenters who say this is about America and/or The Native Americans who were in tune with the land and lost it, but I think if they do not mention that there is this other layer of meaning applicable quite specifically to women, another crucial layer is missed (and yea, I realize and do, ALSO agree—I just agree with it all, LOL—that Gaia/“Mother Earth” is coded feminine, but I don’t think recognition of this metaphor makes a more explicit reading like yours, and mine, which...
@darkspot I like this, especially insofar as I also like and VERY much agree with the commenters who say this is about America and/or The Native Americans who were in tune with the land and lost it, but I think if they do not mention that there is this other layer of meaning applicable quite specifically to women, another crucial layer is missed (and yea, I realize and do, ALSO agree—I just agree with it all, LOL—that Gaia/“Mother Earth” is coded feminine, but I don’t think recognition of this metaphor makes a more explicit reading like yours, and mine, which directly attributes the protagonist’s plight as also representing what often happens to the female identity in certain patriarchy, particularly this one!). So, in short, the brilliance of this song, to me, is the layers of meaning and how they all just click together… the rape of the land occurred via the erasure of a people which occurred via the rape and erasure of identity or so, so many women, and it all begins with the Native American tribes, but continued and was interwoven through slavery and then the terrible treatment of women in general, especially those of the lower classes—we all suffer from being spiritually detached from the land, America espouses values and forgets them repeatedly, let alone the purposeful erasure of the original cultures! It’s cyclical and the trauma endures.
@darkspot I like this, especially insofar as I also like and VERY much agree with the commenters who say this is about America and/or The Native Americans who were in tune with the land and lost it, but I think if they do not mention that there is this other layer of meaning applicable quite specifically to women, another crucial layer is missed (and yea, I realize and do, ALSO agree—I just agree with it all, LOL—that Gaia/“Mother Earth” is coded feminine, but I don’t think recognition of this metaphor makes a more explicit reading like yours, and mine, which...
@darkspot I like this, especially insofar as I also like and VERY much agree with the commenters who say this is about America and/or The Native Americans who were in tune with the land and lost it, but I think if they do not mention that there is this other layer of meaning applicable quite specifically to women, another crucial layer is missed (and yea, I realize and do, ALSO agree—I just agree with it all, LOL—that Gaia/“Mother Earth” is coded feminine, but I don’t think recognition of this metaphor makes a more explicit reading like yours, and mine, which directly attributes the protagonist’s plight as also representing what often happens to the female identity in certain patriarchy, particularly this one!). So, in short, the brilliance of this song, to me, is the layers of meaning and how they all just click together… the rape of the land occurred via the erasure of a people which occurred via the rape and erasure of identity or so, so many women, and it all begins with the Native American tribes, but continued and was interwoven through slavery and then the terrible treatment of women in general, especially those of the lower classes—we all suffer from being spiritually detached from the land, America espouses values and forgets them repeatedly, let alone the purposeful erasure of the original cultures! It’s cyclical and the trauma endures. OH and yes, all are removed from their innate magic by being removed from the land and forgetting who they are. People in general, cultures that are destroyed especially, and then women especially—who are both revered and destroyed for this same thing. It might be this, that you rightly observed, that I feel so strongly in this song, that makes me most inclined to read it not only as about America and the Native Americans, but women in general, as well.
That sound fairly accurate. I somehow thought some form of prostitution, but the magic(k) works too. Good idea.
So many levels I'm sure. Listening to it I've come to hear a native american girl falling in love with an individual or the white people taking over her peoples land. There is love from the other side too (for the land or the individual for the individual girl) but little respect for the native american attitudes and beliefs about life. The girl actively forgetting herself. "She will betray all that she loves, and even wait for their saviour to come". Native American's being very connected to the land "Virginia do you remember when the land held your hand?". "Turquoise serpents" - spiritual wisdom. They remind me of the chakra system. Loosing the thread now but something like that maybe?
i agree with you Kageroo, give or take some minor details.
Ksb, did you see the video on YouTube to this song using the Disney film? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4reipYDza4
I'm pretty sure (well, as sure as it's possible to be on a Tori song- so many fucking layers!) that this is about Virginia, the actual spirit of that slice of land. Tori's choosing to characterize her as female and definitely Native American- turquoise serpents, the Red Road part, etc.- which makes sense because that was the first culture to live there, and the Native American connection with and spirituality given to land fits her metaphor nicely.
Basically, Virginia's all chillin' happy with her native peeps, and then said native peeps are like, "Oh no the white man is coming, hellll no! He is going to take to Virginia too!" So the white man does, but Virginia being what she is (land, the basis of life) she is fully giving. Unlike the natives the white man doesn't know the right amount to take: he just takes and takes (hands open bit.)
The savoir bit I'm not as sure on, though I think it's Virginia taking the whole Jesus thing (all will be made well in the end) on credit, but doesn't see it come to fruition. So life goes on and she's losing her self to all the corruption, both from individuals and politically. Forgetting her name, not knowing what her turquoise serpents represent- she has lost her spirit.
In a nutshell, a song about "raping the land," using the metaphor of physically doing so (gives him her body, covering him, arouse.)
and i love the change in time signature. genius.