Culling of the Fold Lyrics

Lyric discussion by CynicalTruth 

Cover art for Culling of the Fold lyrics by Decemberists, The

I think this is a song about how prejudice and socially-imposed ideas hurt human relationships.

"It may break your heart to break her bones But someone's got to do the culling of the fold"

So... your feelings towards her are of love. But you hurt her because you KNOW you have to, she doesn't fit some social criteria; (like "strenght"). But still that hurts you both - and all that for an idea. So feelings should be above rules and principles. Also, no one is entitled to decide who is worthy of life and who isn't.

Cut him up, girl Really cut him up, girl He lives by himself In a hole in a wall You got to cut him up, girl

You can take him in a stitch Dump his body in a ditch Leave his limbs all naked That'll teach him how to take it

= intolerance?

I don't know how much sense I'm making here, but I just get a lot of sarcasm out of this song.