A friend and I were discusing how this song is about Hamlet by Shakespeare.
"There is no grace in act five"-
Refers to how the characters are shown at their worst in the last act. The next lines of the verse describes how messy and undignified a body can be while dieing. Much like how many of the main characters act just before and while dieing.
"All the people who taught me card tricks are dying"-
This line is not only referring to Hamlet's dead father but also his father's court jester, Yorick, who played with Hamlet as a child. Hamlet holds the jester's skull during his famous "To be or not to be..." speech.
"I've been trying
to get my pop-pop's good looks from old snapshots"-
Hamlet is trying to be a good king like his father and grandfather were.
"Even if the world is saved
And the couples kiss before the credits list"
There will be more than a lifetime of death"-
Even if Hamlet can dethrone his insane unckle Claudius, then get with Ophelia, who is also somewhat out of her mind, there will still be a war with Denmark. Hamlet is not strong enough to be king. The war will last longer than a life span hence "more than a lifetime of death"
"A circus tent and all the folding chairs fit in an old coffin for travel"-
This line, I believe, the poet himself would have enjoyed a great deal. It is compairing the court of Claudius to a circus and the death of its performers.
Incredibly well written and thought out song. Is Why? just too intelligent to be more popular? With such deliciously interesting lyrics and melodies, I can think of no other reason...
A friend and I were discusing how this song is about Hamlet by Shakespeare.
"There is no grace in act five"- Refers to how the characters are shown at their worst in the last act. The next lines of the verse describes how messy and undignified a body can be while dieing. Much like how many of the main characters act just before and while dieing.
"All the people who taught me card tricks are dying"- This line is not only referring to Hamlet's dead father but also his father's court jester, Yorick, who played with Hamlet as a child. Hamlet holds the jester's skull during his famous "To be or not to be..." speech.
"I've been trying to get my pop-pop's good looks from old snapshots"- Hamlet is trying to be a good king like his father and grandfather were.
"Even if the world is saved And the couples kiss before the credits list" There will be more than a lifetime of death"- Even if Hamlet can dethrone his insane unckle Claudius, then get with Ophelia, who is also somewhat out of her mind, there will still be a war with Denmark. Hamlet is not strong enough to be king. The war will last longer than a life span hence "more than a lifetime of death"
"A circus tent and all the folding chairs fit in an old coffin for travel"- This line, I believe, the poet himself would have enjoyed a great deal. It is compairing the court of Claudius to a circus and the death of its performers.
Incredibly well written and thought out song. Is Why? just too intelligent to be more popular? With such deliciously interesting lyrics and melodies, I can think of no other reason...
sorry, "To be or not to be" is performed with knife in hand(he's considering suicide); not a skull...that would be "Alas poor Yorick...."
sorry, "To be or not to be" is performed with knife in hand(he's considering suicide); not a skull...that would be "Alas poor Yorick...."