Morning

Correct lyrics from the Around the Well CD sleeve: HARD LIGHT TAKE THE WINGS OFF THE WINTER SOFT BIRD THEY WERE STRONG HANDS THAT HELD HER MILES ABOVE GROUND WE CAN'T SEE YOU NOW MORNING TOOK THE REINS FROM THE RIDER STRONG HANDS ON THE LAP BEHIND HER THAT TEAR HER NIGHTGOWN WE CAN'T SEE YOU NOW

I have a theory that “Morning” is about a young girl transitioning into adulthood who was assaulted and possibly killed if not broken in spirit before having the chance to make her own life. First, each verse in the first stanza is a parallel of the second. It begins with a harsh transition and a loss of choice and innocence.

“Hard light, take the wings off the winter” = “Morning took the reins from the rider” The hard light after the winter is spring, but the word choice (hard light rather than soft spring sunshine) leads me to believe this is not a good change. This hard light will melt the snow and take away what’s wonderful about winter. This passage of time parallels the morning coming in the second stanza. Wings here represent the beauty and innocence of winter and the “soft bird” as well as that bird’s choice to fly in the spring. A loss of choice is echoed in taking reins from the rider. So, in these verses above, the passage of time is taking the beauty and innocence of childhood (winter, night time) as well as the decision-making power for the bird to fly and the rider to steer. In other words, the girl is growing older and losing these qualities. Why is she losing them?

“Soft bird, they were strong hands that held her” = “Strong hands, on the lap behind her” Strong hands symbolize both dependability and violence. This person was trustworthy and close enough to hold the bird and ride horseback with the girl. Saying “they WERE strong hands” implies that this trusted person changed and became weak-willed. These hands were the ones to take the wings and the reins as well as “tear her nightgown.” This last quote points heavily towards violent rape.

“Miles above the ground, we can’t see you now” In the first stanza, these verses sound like a bird flying away, but the bird was implied to have lost its wings. My theory is that she has passed away (as a bird would, without its wings) and gone to heaven, which is why “we can’t see you now.” The idea of a tragic ending with a girl going to heaven echoes the idea of the “hard light” in the first stanza.

In the end, maybe this song was more about mourning than morning.

perfect!!!!!!!!!!

so, the song is kind mysterious but those last few lines seem kind of undeniably rapey.... any thoughts?

a favorite, but tough to decipher, even the tone.

either rapey or about pretending?