I think the jealous sisters may represent the politcal parties: Democrat and Republican. 'One is laid on the floor': the democrats doing nothing. 'One is changing the locks on the door': in the context of the song this seems to mean that while the Republican administration has sent the soldiers out, their welcome home is something less than they expected.
The smoke references in the second verse strike me as the smoke of the battlefield. Smoke in his nose as opposed to the scent of roses and raspberry leaves back home. As a soldier the narrator represents the ideals of our democracy in a way that the posturing of the fat cats in washington grossly distorts, hence 'making the meaning they lack'.
'Like the shape of a wave, the jealous sisters will sing on my grave.' They will lament his senseless death seemingly oblivious that it was their inequities that caused it.
'Living to run where they led' = following orders as a soldier
'Dying to rise from their bed' = implying they are asleep and people are dying for it.
I think the jealous sisters may represent the politcal parties: Democrat and Republican. 'One is laid on the floor': the democrats doing nothing. 'One is changing the locks on the door': in the context of the song this seems to mean that while the Republican administration has sent the soldiers out, their welcome home is something less than they expected.
The smoke references in the second verse strike me as the smoke of the battlefield. Smoke in his nose as opposed to the scent of roses and raspberry leaves back home. As a soldier the narrator represents the ideals of our democracy in a way that the posturing of the fat cats in washington grossly distorts, hence 'making the meaning they lack'.
'Like the shape of a wave, the jealous sisters will sing on my grave.' They will lament his senseless death seemingly oblivious that it was their inequities that caused it.
'Living to run where they led' = following orders as a soldier 'Dying to rise from their bed' = implying they are asleep and people are dying for it.