I dunno...I was of the impression that during "Revenge!", the Rake's children that he killed came back to haunt him, and at the same time all the evil deeds had caused him to snap, so he took Margaret back to the Annan and drowned her during "The Wanting Comes in Waves (Reprise)". As William is crossing the Annan, he sees the Rake drowning Margaret, so trying to defend his love, he attacks the Rake, but he is too late, and the Rake gets away. William he swears his love to Margaret, and kills himself so he won't have to be with her.
I also for some reason believe that when it is the "narrator" singing, it is actually the Rake, as some sort of suicide-note thing. He, like William, had "fallen in love" with Margaret (really more of an obsession with her), and when he learns of her tryst with William, he strikes up a deal with the Queen to take Margaret away, so her "innocent child" will be protected from the hazards of love, and also so he can be with his "true love" (a win-win situation).
That would kind of explain why it opens with "MY true love..." but then seems to switch to the third person. It's almost as if the Rake is a stalker-ish type, and after he had first seen Margaret (well before the events in the story), he had "fallen in love" with her (become obsessed; she was beautiful so he must have her). He'd followed her around, and saw that she had fallen in love with (and been impregnated by) the forest prince, William. (And kids aren't the Rake's strong suit, which may/may not add to anything.)
Then the last line of "The Drowned" is sung by the Rake (who may/may not also sing the "I pulled/called/caught/brought you here" line, though it makes sense for William to sing this as well), before an echo of the chorus, sung by William (seems to be the general consensus), is heard. I think that after the Rake got away, he returned, and watched William with Margaret's body from afar, and, realizing that theirs was really true love, a big difference from his obsession, that he had been wrong all along. So perhaps he returns to his fortress, writes down the story, and kills himself?
A lot of what I've just written isn't explicitly referred to in the album, but that's how the story has unfolded in my head since the first time I listened to it.
by "isn't explicitly referred to" do you mean not implied in the least bit.
by "isn't explicitly referred to" do you mean not implied in the least bit.
Why would Colin write a love story album with the narration of the most detestable character he's yet created. Nothing in the entire hour of music offers any inkling of the rake showing any feelings for Margaret besides sadistic lust.
Why would Colin write a love story album with the narration of the most detestable character he's yet created. Nothing in the entire hour of music offers any inkling of the rake showing any feelings for Margaret besides sadistic lust.
The rake is left out of the first half of the album because that whole first part is about love. the second half is all about the abduction/rescue of margaret finishing with william marrying margaret as they allow themselves to drown in annan waters...
The rake is left out of the first half of the album because that whole first part is about love. the second half is all about the abduction/rescue of margaret finishing with william marrying margaret as they allow themselves to drown in annan waters to prevent ever being separated again, since he's promised his life to the queen after this night
Good point. After having read the official liner notes, I realized I must've been on something either when I listened to the album or when writing that post.
Good point. After having read the official liner notes, I realized I must've been on something either when I listened to the album or when writing that post.
I dunno...I was of the impression that during "Revenge!", the Rake's children that he killed came back to haunt him, and at the same time all the evil deeds had caused him to snap, so he took Margaret back to the Annan and drowned her during "The Wanting Comes in Waves (Reprise)". As William is crossing the Annan, he sees the Rake drowning Margaret, so trying to defend his love, he attacks the Rake, but he is too late, and the Rake gets away. William he swears his love to Margaret, and kills himself so he won't have to be with her.
I also for some reason believe that when it is the "narrator" singing, it is actually the Rake, as some sort of suicide-note thing. He, like William, had "fallen in love" with Margaret (really more of an obsession with her), and when he learns of her tryst with William, he strikes up a deal with the Queen to take Margaret away, so her "innocent child" will be protected from the hazards of love, and also so he can be with his "true love" (a win-win situation).
That would kind of explain why it opens with "MY true love..." but then seems to switch to the third person. It's almost as if the Rake is a stalker-ish type, and after he had first seen Margaret (well before the events in the story), he had "fallen in love" with her (become obsessed; she was beautiful so he must have her). He'd followed her around, and saw that she had fallen in love with (and been impregnated by) the forest prince, William. (And kids aren't the Rake's strong suit, which may/may not add to anything.)
Then the last line of "The Drowned" is sung by the Rake (who may/may not also sing the "I pulled/called/caught/brought you here" line, though it makes sense for William to sing this as well), before an echo of the chorus, sung by William (seems to be the general consensus), is heard. I think that after the Rake got away, he returned, and watched William with Margaret's body from afar, and, realizing that theirs was really true love, a big difference from his obsession, that he had been wrong all along. So perhaps he returns to his fortress, writes down the story, and kills himself?
A lot of what I've just written isn't explicitly referred to in the album, but that's how the story has unfolded in my head since the first time I listened to it.
by "isn't explicitly referred to" do you mean not implied in the least bit.
by "isn't explicitly referred to" do you mean not implied in the least bit.
Why would Colin write a love story album with the narration of the most detestable character he's yet created. Nothing in the entire hour of music offers any inkling of the rake showing any feelings for Margaret besides sadistic lust.
Why would Colin write a love story album with the narration of the most detestable character he's yet created. Nothing in the entire hour of music offers any inkling of the rake showing any feelings for Margaret besides sadistic lust.
The rake is left out of the first half of the album because that whole first part is about love. the second half is all about the abduction/rescue of margaret finishing with william marrying margaret as they allow themselves to drown in annan waters...
The rake is left out of the first half of the album because that whole first part is about love. the second half is all about the abduction/rescue of margaret finishing with william marrying margaret as they allow themselves to drown in annan waters to prevent ever being separated again, since he's promised his life to the queen after this night
Good point. After having read the official liner notes, I realized I must've been on something either when I listened to the album or when writing that post.
Good point. After having read the official liner notes, I realized I must've been on something either when I listened to the album or when writing that post.