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A Bower Scene Lyrics
Thou inconsolable daughter
Said the sister
When wilt thou trouble the water
In the cistern
And what irascible blackguard
Is the father
And when young Margarete's waistline
Grew wider
The fruit of her amorous entwine
Inside her
And so our heroine withdraws
To the Taiga
Said the sister
When wilt thou trouble the water
In the cistern
Is the father
Grew wider
The fruit of her amorous entwine
Inside her
To the Taiga
Song Info
Submitted by
marcellionheart On Feb 23, 2009
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The sister is clearly a nun and the cistern described is a baptismal font. I believe the sister is asking Margaret when she will baptize the baby, i.e. when the baby will be born. It also could be that she has gone to a nun as a confidant and the nun wishes Margaret to be baptized herself.
As continued from Hazards of Love I:
A bower is a lady's house...kind of like a sorority, I'm guessing. Anyway, Margaret is obviously not getting over William and is unconsolable. I do like the previous comment about the sister being a nun...but im not sure if its right. Not to mention what cistern means. I personally cistern (which means 3 different things) Cistern I believe in this context is talking about the amniotic fluid around the baby (as in the water...) And basically yeah...who's the father?...obviously william. So Margaret leaves the bower before her pregnancy becomes too noticable.
I'm thinking this makes more sense:
I'm thinking this makes more sense:
A woman's private chamber in a medieval castle; a boudoir.
A woman's private chamber in a medieval castle; a boudoir.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/bower
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/bower
Thus, she's sitting in her room in a castle. I agree with the your cistern assessment.
Thus, she's sitting in her room in a castle. I agree with the your cistern assessment.
Alternative interpretation- she is advising Margaret to throw herself into the cistern (i.e. commit suicide with her illegitimate child from sorrow).
THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS. Oh my goodness.
Adding quotes would be cool, just for easier reading.
Adding quotes would be cool, just for easier reading.
"Thou unconsolable daughter," said the sister "When will thou trouble the water of the cistern and what irascible blackguard is a father?"
"Thou unconsolable daughter," said the sister "When will thou trouble the water of the cistern and what irascible blackguard is a father?"
For the literary impaired (i.e. my own benefit. I m-w.com open in another window as I listen to the album)
For the literary impaired (i.e. my own benefit. I m-w.com open in another window as I listen to the album)
"Yo sis," Margaret's (probably older sister) asked "when is your water going to break? (when is the baby due?) and what hot-headed rude guy is the father? (of the baby)"
"Yo sis," Margaret's (probably older sister) asked "when is your water going to break? (when is the baby due?) and what hot-headed rude guy is the father? (of the baby)"
And when Margaret started to get fatter/show the baby...
And when Margaret started to get fatter/show the baby bump the fruit of her love (baby) started moving all around in there so she went off alone to the Taiga
Obviously Colin has a way with words to make this sound much cooler though...
I'd only add quotes if they were in the official lyrics...which I don't have right now.
I'd only add quotes if they were in the official lyrics...which I don't have right now.
Continued literal/creative translations:
"Yo sis," Margaret's (probably older sister) asked "when is your water going to break? (when is the baby due?) and what hot-headed rude guy is the father? (of the baby)"
And when Margaret started to get fatter/show the baby bump the fruit of her love (rape-baby) started moving all around in there so she went off alone back to the forest [where she first got sexually assaulted... seems logical]
The album is a concept album. It's not a rape baby, "The fruit of your love" refers to the baby she concieved in the forest willingly. The whole album is one story. There are loads of run downs on the story online, it's quite a nice, Dark fairy tale.
The album is a concept album. It's not a rape baby, "The fruit of your love" refers to the baby she concieved in the forest willingly. The whole album is one story. There are loads of run downs on the story online, it's quite a nice, Dark fairy tale.
so not a rape baby.
the only rape in the whole album takes place within the rake's "fortress"
agreed. The love between Margaret and William is legit.. no unwanted advances.
This is not a rape baby. The love between William and Margaret is quite genuine. Basically wandering alouds interperetation (except references to a rape baby) is good.
but...colin meloy is always writing about rape and dead babies
The first verse is not about her blood relative; it's about a nun.
"thou unconsolable daughter" said the sister (nun) "When will thou trouble the water in the cistern? (When will you repent your sin of premarital sex) a cistern is a basen of holy water in the catholic church.