The King of Carrot Flowers Pt. 1

Alright. This is probably going to be a ridiculously extensive analysis-no matter how obvious a line seems to be-and I apologize in advance.  However, I’d really like to find some sort of meaning out of this song.  Anyway, I’ll start at the beginning.

“When you were young You were the king of carrot flowers. And how you built a tower tumbling through the trees In holy rattlesnakes that fell all around your feet.”

In the first two lines the narrator (Mangum himself? A made-up character? ) reminisces a childhood game in which the “you” the narrator refers to was “the king of carrot flowers” (therefore the “you” is male. Is there a significance to “carrot flowers” or was the title chosen so it would fit with the theme of “make-believe”?) The “you” built a “tower tumbling through the trees” ( A poorly-built tree house? Why does Mangum use the word “tumble”?), some sort of hideaway where “you” was “king of carrot flowers”. The last line is most confusing (What do “holy rattlesnakes” stand for?).

Thankfully, the rest of the lyrics are more straightforward.

“And your mom would stick a fork right into daddy's shoulder. And dad would throw the garbage all across the floor. As we would lay and learn what each other's bodies were for.”

“You’s” family is dysfunctional. The narrator mentions “You’s” father is if he were his own (Are “You and the narrator siblings?) If I am correct, the “throwing garbage across the floor” is a metaphor for really airing one’s dirty laundry and not caring if it hurt anyone. At the same time, “You” are discovering themselves sexually (Sex is a really big theme with Mangum. What does it mean?)

“And this is the room One afternoon I knew I could love you. And from above you how I sank into your soul Into that secret place where no one dares to go.”

I think this stanza is really about the act of sex (once again, sex is a REALLY big theme with Mangum).

“And your mom would drink until she was no longer speaking. And dad would dream of all the different ways to die Each one a little more than he could dare to try.”

Once again, “You’s” (and possibly the narrator’s) family is dysfunctional.  “Mom” abuses alcohol and “Dad” is suicidal but a coward.  Also of note is the comparison between the relationship between “mom and dad”- who hate each other- and “you” and the narrator-who are possibly romantically involved.  Furthermore, is this strange tale of growing up allegorical?  In other words, Are “you”, the narrator, and “mom and dad” all symbols for something else?  

So, at the end, we have some questions to consider: What is the narrator’s identity? Is it Mangum himself or is it a made-up character? What is the significance of “carrot flowers”? Is there any? Is the “tower tumbling through the trees” a tree house or some sort of a hideaway? Why does Mangum describe a tower in a tree as “tumbling?” What do “holy rattlesnakes” stand for? Are “You” and the narrator siblings? Why does Mangum repeatedly mention or allude to sex and/or sexual organs? Are these lyrics allegorical? Lastly, How does this song relate to “The King of Carrot Flowers Parts 2 & 3” and to the rest of the album? Thank you all. Once again, I apologize for being ridiculously extensive.