Some of the misogyny here is scary... Hyperbole and bobbyw, I'm looking at you...
Yes, it's referencing the myths of Lilith (hence "Lilith's Song" in the title). It has nothing to do with Eve. The name Lilith goes back to Assyria (Babylon) at least; Lilitu was a sister-god and companion-warrior. The concept of an equal female counterpart may have entered the culture of the nations of Palestine (including the Jewish people) during the Babylonian Exile. But of course it had to be reconciled with one of the main creation myths, so Lilith became an equal who was put in her place and quite literally "demonized."
The riverside imagery of the song comes from another version of the medieval Jewish folklore involving Lilith. THe folklore is known as mishrash and while not taken as formal scripture, it usually took the form of teaching stories, with multiple meanings and interpretations. You could take it as cautionary, sure. But I'm sure the story was told by women for women with an admiring tone. Esp. considering the traditional Jewish teachings that a wife was entitled to a happy marriage, including sexual satisfaction, and that there were grounds for divorce if her husband wasn't helping her in those regards.
Some of the misogyny here is scary... Hyperbole and bobbyw, I'm looking at you...
Yes, it's referencing the myths of Lilith (hence "Lilith's Song" in the title). It has nothing to do with Eve. The name Lilith goes back to Assyria (Babylon) at least; Lilitu was a sister-god and companion-warrior. The concept of an equal female counterpart may have entered the culture of the nations of Palestine (including the Jewish people) during the Babylonian Exile. But of course it had to be reconciled with one of the main creation myths, so Lilith became an equal who was put in her place and quite literally "demonized."
The riverside imagery of the song comes from another version of the medieval Jewish folklore involving Lilith. THe folklore is known as mishrash and while not taken as formal scripture, it usually took the form of teaching stories, with multiple meanings and interpretations. You could take it as cautionary, sure. But I'm sure the story was told by women for women with an admiring tone. Esp. considering the traditional Jewish teachings that a wife was entitled to a happy marriage, including sexual satisfaction, and that there were grounds for divorce if her husband wasn't helping her in those regards.