I've always liked this song, but I have no real idea of it's meaning or inspiration. I agree that last line, "face down beside the river" is ominous and suggests death.
There's a novel by Charles Dickens titled, Barnaby Rudge: A Tale of the Riots of 'Eighty. I haven't read it, but it apparently recounts a murder and the title character, Barnaby is a simpleton.
I've always liked this song, but I have no real idea of it's meaning or inspiration. I agree that last line, "face down beside the river" is ominous and suggests death.
There's a novel by Charles Dickens titled, Barnaby Rudge: A Tale of the Riots of 'Eighty. I haven't read it, but it apparently recounts a murder and the title character, Barnaby is a simpleton.