the ambiguity of darroh's lyrical approach makes it all the more fun for the listener to create subjective meaning. in the case of "a seafarer's knot"....the title seems metaphoric, maybe indicating a "knot" that a person has to untie to venture off to sea. "sea," in this sense, could be anything....a relationship, business, politics, etc. personally, i'll interpret it as a guy falling for a girl who may not be good for him, and all the while the speaker is enviously observing this, wishing that guy were him. here's my breakdown of some of the lines...
"she's diggin for chemistry with the butcher's tools"
and
"he's turning a-green from these envious glorious things".....the temptress is working her magic, getting the guy to fall for her, he's "turning a-green" as in, feeling lucky, as with the irish clover reference. by calling them "butcher's tools"....i imagine a butcher slaughtering meat....making me think the temptress is a siren, as in classical mythology.
"motions and waving wishes" and "confidence and eloquence" could be that of the temptress, in tempting the temptee.
"invoking a blue that's good for us too"....maybe the speaker saying that this love would be equally possible between he and the temptress.
"what large amazing things that we'll turn into rain"
and
"gather round while we wait for high tide"
and a line that was left out...
"we're all a mess as though we have another row in us".....all of these indicate the tragedy of the speaker in losing a possible love. maybe it's this "knot" that prevents him from going "out to sea" with this girl. "high tide" could metaphorically indicate a flood at the dock that ruins their dreams. finally, he closes it saying this struggle is not only his, but everyones. none of them have the strength to row the boat any further (metaphorically, of course).
far-fetched analysis? probably. but it's fun fancying possible meanings in a stream of consciousness style. for all i know, this song could be about irish oil tycoons and industry, having nothing to do with love.
the ambiguity of darroh's lyrical approach makes it all the more fun for the listener to create subjective meaning. in the case of "a seafarer's knot"....the title seems metaphoric, maybe indicating a "knot" that a person has to untie to venture off to sea. "sea," in this sense, could be anything....a relationship, business, politics, etc. personally, i'll interpret it as a guy falling for a girl who may not be good for him, and all the while the speaker is enviously observing this, wishing that guy were him. here's my breakdown of some of the lines...
"she's diggin for chemistry with the butcher's tools" and "he's turning a-green from these envious glorious things".....the temptress is working her magic, getting the guy to fall for her, he's "turning a-green" as in, feeling lucky, as with the irish clover reference. by calling them "butcher's tools"....i imagine a butcher slaughtering meat....making me think the temptress is a siren, as in classical mythology.
"motions and waving wishes" and "confidence and eloquence" could be that of the temptress, in tempting the temptee.
"invoking a blue that's good for us too"....maybe the speaker saying that this love would be equally possible between he and the temptress.
"what large amazing things that we'll turn into rain" and "gather round while we wait for high tide" and a line that was left out... "we're all a mess as though we have another row in us".....all of these indicate the tragedy of the speaker in losing a possible love. maybe it's this "knot" that prevents him from going "out to sea" with this girl. "high tide" could metaphorically indicate a flood at the dock that ruins their dreams. finally, he closes it saying this struggle is not only his, but everyones. none of them have the strength to row the boat any further (metaphorically, of course).
far-fetched analysis? probably. but it's fun fancying possible meanings in a stream of consciousness style. for all i know, this song could be about irish oil tycoons and industry, having nothing to do with love.