D'Artagnan was the lieutenant of the Grey Musketeers, one of King Louis' elite units. The King held the highest trust and faith in D'Artagnan, often entrusting him to deliver secret messages and guard high profile prisoners. The lyric reads, "out of gold that they stole from the queen...stole from a man...whose favorite hand...is one that he will always land." The gold was stole from the Queen (wife of the King). A man who's "favorite hand" is one that D'Artagnan "will always land."
Unlike much of the fables of the 3 musketeers, D'Artagnan was an actual person. The French hold him in high regards as a symbol of fidelity, much like Robin Hood. He is believed to be buried in an "unmarked grave" near the Saint Peter and Paul church in Wolder, Netherlands (Wolder is a suburb of Maastricht....google map it if you don't believe me). His grave is believed to have been discovered in November 2008: http://www2.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=3b5ab778-b816-40f3-82c0-04e7f1eeff9b
He died in the siege of Maarsicht of a musket slug to the throat in 1673. The siege occured the night of Saturday, June 25. The Citizen Cope lyric goes, "I've been beaten...by Saturdays."
His wife, who was from a very wealthy family, bore him 2 children. However she was unhappy with the relationship and even hired spies to watch D'Artagnan when he was away. She left D'Artagnan after a brief marriage amongst many rumors of his exploits with other women while away. I can't really pick out any lyrics to reference D'Artagnan's love life (or the many fables which surround it)
This song is definitely written with D'Artagnan the musketeer in mind. I think Mr. Greenwood (aka Citizen Cope) is using the values which D'Artagnan represents to describe someone whom he knows, possibly even himself at one time. I don't think its written as a metaphor to today's wars or soldiers.
@clhatch13 Good job. I think he simply admires D'Artagnan, who died fighting in a fairly stupid war, considering his position. Death by musket shot to throat is a rather grim end for such an admired man. D'Artagnan is a metaphor for all the good men who we value who fall in the battle "South of Babylon" and there will be so many more lying in unmarked graves as we continue to toss our sons and duaghters into the great gaping maw that are the Forver Wars in the Middle East. That's my take. the...
@clhatch13 Good job. I think he simply admires D'Artagnan, who died fighting in a fairly stupid war, considering his position. Death by musket shot to throat is a rather grim end for such an admired man. D'Artagnan is a metaphor for all the good men who we value who fall in the battle "South of Babylon" and there will be so many more lying in unmarked graves as we continue to toss our sons and duaghters into the great gaping maw that are the Forver Wars in the Middle East. That's my take. the Helicopter taking off at the end may be lifting a dying modern soldier off the field of battle. The wishing a certain person would just fade away suggest there are enemies of righteousness who are on the side of evil and are stoking the battle "South of Babylon." He doesn't seem to want D'Artagnan to "just fade away" since he just spent an entire song reminding us that he was a real person whose struggles he consideres similar to those in his own time.
http://ickmusic.com/2007/08/23/citizen-cope-dartagnans-theme/
D'Artagnan was the lieutenant of the Grey Musketeers, one of King Louis' elite units. The King held the highest trust and faith in D'Artagnan, often entrusting him to deliver secret messages and guard high profile prisoners. The lyric reads, "out of gold that they stole from the queen...stole from a man...whose favorite hand...is one that he will always land." The gold was stole from the Queen (wife of the King). A man who's "favorite hand" is one that D'Artagnan "will always land."
Unlike much of the fables of the 3 musketeers, D'Artagnan was an actual person. The French hold him in high regards as a symbol of fidelity, much like Robin Hood. He is believed to be buried in an "unmarked grave" near the Saint Peter and Paul church in Wolder, Netherlands (Wolder is a suburb of Maastricht....google map it if you don't believe me). His grave is believed to have been discovered in November 2008:
http://www2.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=3b5ab778-b816-40f3-82c0-04e7f1eeff9b
He died in the siege of Maarsicht of a musket slug to the throat in 1673. The siege occured the night of Saturday, June 25. The Citizen Cope lyric goes, "I've been beaten...by Saturdays."
His wife, who was from a very wealthy family, bore him 2 children. However she was unhappy with the relationship and even hired spies to watch D'Artagnan when he was away. She left D'Artagnan after a brief marriage amongst many rumors of his exploits with other women while away. I can't really pick out any lyrics to reference D'Artagnan's love life (or the many fables which surround it)
This song is definitely written with D'Artagnan the musketeer in mind. I think Mr. Greenwood (aka Citizen Cope) is using the values which D'Artagnan represents to describe someone whom he knows, possibly even himself at one time. I don't think its written as a metaphor to today's wars or soldiers.
@clhatch13 Good job. I think he simply admires D'Artagnan, who died fighting in a fairly stupid war, considering his position. Death by musket shot to throat is a rather grim end for such an admired man. D'Artagnan is a metaphor for all the good men who we value who fall in the battle "South of Babylon" and there will be so many more lying in unmarked graves as we continue to toss our sons and duaghters into the great gaping maw that are the Forver Wars in the Middle East. That's my take. the...
@clhatch13 Good job. I think he simply admires D'Artagnan, who died fighting in a fairly stupid war, considering his position. Death by musket shot to throat is a rather grim end for such an admired man. D'Artagnan is a metaphor for all the good men who we value who fall in the battle "South of Babylon" and there will be so many more lying in unmarked graves as we continue to toss our sons and duaghters into the great gaping maw that are the Forver Wars in the Middle East. That's my take. the Helicopter taking off at the end may be lifting a dying modern soldier off the field of battle. The wishing a certain person would just fade away suggest there are enemies of righteousness who are on the side of evil and are stoking the battle "South of Babylon." He doesn't seem to want D'Artagnan to "just fade away" since he just spent an entire song reminding us that he was a real person whose struggles he consideres similar to those in his own time.