At first listening, I tought it was about a young girl who feels really bad after her abortion. She probably feels bad for many reasons. People are telling her: " Why surely madam you must be dreamin'
You couldn't have done this if you knew what you were doin' ". Bill is probably the baby's name, but it could also be a metaphore for the total absence of the father in the song and in the story, and his lack of actions, help and support might make him look like a dead person, a corpse.
But then I thought: this could be the statue of Liberty. The ashes and lashes could be refering to her flame. The "red, white and blue hair" could be refering to the flag of the USA. When she was constructed, the United States was the place where all dreams came true, but now: " Hideously looking back at what once was beautiful ". It could be about the actual death of the women represented in the statue of Liberty. This could be a way to imply freedom died, and now that it's hopeless, people get together in grief. The various species could be about the many races in america, or the many political views uniting once freedom is lost. And the lyrics: " Why surely madam you must be dreamin'
You couldn't have done this if you knew what you were doin' " could mean that freedom itself killed freedom through chaos.
@Ex Abrupto Kubalaht's analysis is pretty much right (based on Don's own statements). But according to John French the song started life as merely a taunt for Bill Harkleroad, written after one of those infamous "band talks", comparing him to a recently deceased goldfish. Obviously the lyric evolved a bit later.
@Ex Abrupto Kubalaht's analysis is pretty much right (based on Don's own statements). But according to John French the song started life as merely a taunt for Bill Harkleroad, written after one of those infamous "band talks", comparing him to a recently deceased goldfish. Obviously the lyric evolved a bit later.
At first listening, I tought it was about a young girl who feels really bad after her abortion. She probably feels bad for many reasons. People are telling her: " Why surely madam you must be dreamin' You couldn't have done this if you knew what you were doin' ". Bill is probably the baby's name, but it could also be a metaphore for the total absence of the father in the song and in the story, and his lack of actions, help and support might make him look like a dead person, a corpse.
But then I thought: this could be the statue of Liberty. The ashes and lashes could be refering to her flame. The "red, white and blue hair" could be refering to the flag of the USA. When she was constructed, the United States was the place where all dreams came true, but now: " Hideously looking back at what once was beautiful ". It could be about the actual death of the women represented in the statue of Liberty. This could be a way to imply freedom died, and now that it's hopeless, people get together in grief. The various species could be about the many races in america, or the many political views uniting once freedom is lost. And the lyrics: " Why surely madam you must be dreamin' You couldn't have done this if you knew what you were doin' " could mean that freedom itself killed freedom through chaos.
@Ex Abrupto Kubalaht's analysis is pretty much right (based on Don's own statements). But according to John French the song started life as merely a taunt for Bill Harkleroad, written after one of those infamous "band talks", comparing him to a recently deceased goldfish. Obviously the lyric evolved a bit later.
@Ex Abrupto Kubalaht's analysis is pretty much right (based on Don's own statements). But according to John French the song started life as merely a taunt for Bill Harkleroad, written after one of those infamous "band talks", comparing him to a recently deceased goldfish. Obviously the lyric evolved a bit later.