I think this song is about control. Going from a controlling mother to a controlling boyfriend/husband.
In the first verse, her mother has prepared her for marriage. She has been trained for this, and now her mother is sending her off to "war" (marriage). Tucking the ribbons under the helment seems to smybolize the transition from being a child to becoming an adult. The "You raised your hand for the assignment," sounds bitter, as though the mother both wants her to go off to be a wife and, at the same time, resents her for leaving.
The second verse about dancing for him, I interpret as meaning that now she will probably submit herelf to a man's control as she starts to date. She will "dance" for him. She doesn't want to do this, so she wants the light left on to remember who she really is as an individual. The green limosine may represent money or financial stability. Perhaps an escape from her mother.
I walked into your dream (Her mother's and/or her boyfriend's/husband's)
And now I've forgotten how to dream my own dream (She's lost her sense of self)
You are the CLEVER one aren't you (Anger over her mother's control)
Brides in veils for you (Her mother raised her to be a wife)
We told you all of our secrets
All but one
And don't you even try (She submitted completely to her mother and has always told her everything - almost. The last secret is what makes her independent. Perhaps her love for this man?)
The phone has been disconnected (She is breaking free of her mother.)
Dripping with blood and with time and with your advice
Poison me against the MOON (Her mother has been so overbearing, she has poisoned (limited, destroyed) her daughter's dreams and aspirations.)
In the next verse, the black chariot (marriage) is more ominous than the green limosine (dating/escape?), and the reference to changing her name does seem to imply marriage. The fact that she says, "He's going to change my name," sounds like he is making the decision. Again, he is controlling. She's afraid she will lose herself to him in marriage, so she asks that the light be kept on.
I escape into your escape into our very favorite fearscape (She escapes from her mother to her husband, which is even worse.)
It's across the sky and across my heart and I cross my legs oh my god (She has dreams and desires of her own, but obeys - crossing legs, being prim and proper - instead. She is horrified by this.)
First my left foot then my right behind the other
Breadcrumbs lost under the snow (She's lost herself. The breadcrumbs were the trail back to who she really is. She's submitted to his control.)
There seems to be a theme of safety versus risk. She moves from one safe (but unhappy) place to another. During the transition, though, there is risk. (Circus girl without a safety net. Pantyhose running in the cold - she's left alone.) This seems, however, to be when she sees herself most clearly and tries to hold on to that insight, symbolized by leaving the light on.
I think this song is about control. Going from a controlling mother to a controlling boyfriend/husband.
In the first verse, her mother has prepared her for marriage. She has been trained for this, and now her mother is sending her off to "war" (marriage). Tucking the ribbons under the helment seems to smybolize the transition from being a child to becoming an adult. The "You raised your hand for the assignment," sounds bitter, as though the mother both wants her to go off to be a wife and, at the same time, resents her for leaving.
The second verse about dancing for him, I interpret as meaning that now she will probably submit herelf to a man's control as she starts to date. She will "dance" for him. She doesn't want to do this, so she wants the light left on to remember who she really is as an individual. The green limosine may represent money or financial stability. Perhaps an escape from her mother.
I walked into your dream (Her mother's and/or her boyfriend's/husband's) And now I've forgotten how to dream my own dream (She's lost her sense of self) You are the CLEVER one aren't you (Anger over her mother's control) Brides in veils for you (Her mother raised her to be a wife) We told you all of our secrets All but one And don't you even try (She submitted completely to her mother and has always told her everything - almost. The last secret is what makes her independent. Perhaps her love for this man?) The phone has been disconnected (She is breaking free of her mother.) Dripping with blood and with time and with your advice Poison me against the MOON (Her mother has been so overbearing, she has poisoned (limited, destroyed) her daughter's dreams and aspirations.)
In the next verse, the black chariot (marriage) is more ominous than the green limosine (dating/escape?), and the reference to changing her name does seem to imply marriage. The fact that she says, "He's going to change my name," sounds like he is making the decision. Again, he is controlling. She's afraid she will lose herself to him in marriage, so she asks that the light be kept on.
I escape into your escape into our very favorite fearscape (She escapes from her mother to her husband, which is even worse.) It's across the sky and across my heart and I cross my legs oh my god (She has dreams and desires of her own, but obeys - crossing legs, being prim and proper - instead. She is horrified by this.) First my left foot then my right behind the other Breadcrumbs lost under the snow (She's lost herself. The breadcrumbs were the trail back to who she really is. She's submitted to his control.)
There seems to be a theme of safety versus risk. She moves from one safe (but unhappy) place to another. During the transition, though, there is risk. (Circus girl without a safety net. Pantyhose running in the cold - she's left alone.) This seems, however, to be when she sees herself most clearly and tries to hold on to that insight, symbolized by leaving the light on.