When I hear this song, I see a father deciding to hang himself when his son comes outside and sees it. He begins this lament, this passing of advice, as comfort for his son and as justification for his suicide. I'm not sure I can cite specifics that make me see that, but it's just what comes to mind.
The Civil Rights idea makes sense to me in principle, but I just don't see anything in this song to specifically indicate that. It's probably more geared toward this specific situation, and not a greater historical occurrence.
Well he says in the opening stanza "my hands tied in back of me"...
Well he says in the opening stanza "my hands tied in back of me"...
I always heard it as a man being lynched and hung as well and saying his final goodbyes to his son, giving his final words of advice.
I always heard it as a man being lynched and hung as well and saying his final goodbyes to his son, giving his final words of advice.
Also the lines
"As they set my last breath free. Turn your eyes but don't fail to see"
Also the lines
"As they set my last breath free. Turn your eyes but don't fail to see"
I definitely hear that as someone else setting his last breath free and the advice to his son is to be gentle, not force himself to watch but to not become blind or "fail to see" either
When I hear this song, I see a father deciding to hang himself when his son comes outside and sees it. He begins this lament, this passing of advice, as comfort for his son and as justification for his suicide. I'm not sure I can cite specifics that make me see that, but it's just what comes to mind.
The Civil Rights idea makes sense to me in principle, but I just don't see anything in this song to specifically indicate that. It's probably more geared toward this specific situation, and not a greater historical occurrence.
@katerina89
@katerina89
Well he says in the opening stanza "my hands tied in back of me"...
Well he says in the opening stanza "my hands tied in back of me"...
I always heard it as a man being lynched and hung as well and saying his final goodbyes to his son, giving his final words of advice.
I always heard it as a man being lynched and hung as well and saying his final goodbyes to his son, giving his final words of advice.
Also the lines "As they set my last breath free. Turn your eyes but don't fail to see"
Also the lines "As they set my last breath free. Turn your eyes but don't fail to see"
I definitely hear that as someone else setting his last breath free and the advice to his son is to be gentle, not force himself to watch but to not become blind or "fail to see" either