Esther

She's dead people. She died.

Phish...aw...

I don't see the puppet as being evil. I don't think it was trying to drown her, it was vulnerable and scared too, and was just trying to hang on.

I was listening to this in the car today, and as she got airborne, I was thinking drugs. Addictive drugs, guys. She is confused, she takes them from the man, the normal people disapprove, she runs away and gets high (flying!) and then she comes back down "in the nasty part of town," where she is chased down by joggers (if you're seeing it from my point of view yet, any help with "joggers?" I'm drawing a blank, i never understand that part). So she has to run from these people, and she jumps into the water. The water's painful, so she strips down, but that doll just can't let her go.

Eventually it kills her.

Thoughts/input?

I don't think of Ester's death as a literal death. I think of it as the death of her innocence. I believe that the doll may (from the writer's perspective) represent a number of things that may bring about such a proverbial death.

Most people have suggested drugs and prostitution. I think one may add to this list of possibilities pregnancy at a young age, as possibly represented by the doll.

The churchgoers' response to her doll is equally plausible (and understandable from a reactionary point of view) if one thinks of the doll as an unplanned child. Through this interpretation, Ester's childhood is summarily (and prematurely) brought to an end when faced with the responsibility of caring for her own child in the face of being shunned by the people around her. Hawthorne would be proud.

Cast of characters:

• Esther – A young girl (Our tragic heroine)
• Armenian Man – ‘Bad boy’ (Stranger to Esther’s family) • The Bucket – His ‘vessel’ containing a ‘Gift’ for Esther
• The Puppet – His ‘gift’/The baby
• The Church/Congregation – Esther’s traditional family/community • “The puppet held high” – Visibly pregnant & unashamed • Storm – untenable situation (within the family)/the world apart from her loving family • “Her feet began to lift” – Turns to drugs (She gets high) • (Instrumental interlude) – Time spent escaping through drugs • “Tumble earthward” – comes down to reality (now destitute) • Evil Men – Evil People (truly wicked or maybe she’s paranoid. Either way, no one to turn to) • Morning – Cleared Mind • “Wandered through the streets” – debates which way to go (back home?) • Chilly Lake – Hard feelings/Cold treatment/Judgment • The Town – Home/Family • Joggers – “The Healthy” (family, faculty, medical or social workers) who ‘know better’ • “To Swim” – To face (and try to accept) the cold judgment of others

With all the metaphors introduced, the tragic conclusion of this tale comes into painful focus in the last two stanzas as Esther decides to rid herself of the child at the will of her family, only to be faced with feelings of guilt small at first, nagging, relentless, and ultimately inescapable.
The stigma attached to her from those on the outside combined with inner thoughts about the child (she would never come to know) prove to be more than Esther can bear. Somewhere out there is a man who shamelessly ruined a girl. Pitiable Esther takes her own life.

its a like a girl in a crazy dream who can fly

i think its about a girl who is at a carnaval and this man gives her a puppet, an evil puppet. its bad karma. it gives her bad luck and ends up killing her hehe...phish is awesome

i totally agree with Amsie...this song and it's lyrics are cool and crazy shit.

For some reason I remember reading a similar story as a folktale. It was perhaps based in Eastern Europe or possibly somewhere in the Caucasus. Someone please let me know via e-mail if he or she knows anything more about this Esther-folktale idea. Thanks.

TRIPPY!!!!