I read the "prettiest whistles" bit as "No matter how pretty and charming you are, you can still fall in love and get inescapably hooked"- William implying that he's already in love with Margaret, and she'll soon feel the same about him ("You'll learn soon enough").
And as far as the rape interpretation... no, can't see it. They both seem to be stupid in love with each other, but William seems a bit too starry-eyed to actually go around raping people.
As a side note: up until the Interlude and the Rake's Song, the whole album seems very reminiscent of the Tam Lin story; after that, of course, there's no "hold me fast, and fear me not" bit, but the wandering into the wilderness, being seduced by a fairy/changeling, falling in love, and returning to him seems very familiar- am I imagining it?
William isn't singing this song, though. I know it's easy to assume that, since the song starts out calling Margaret his one true love, but that's the narrator speaking, who is The Rake introduced later in the album. He's stalking Margaret, and is watching her in secret as she meets William.
William isn't singing this song, though. I know it's easy to assume that, since the song starts out calling Margaret his one true love, but that's the narrator speaking, who is The Rake introduced later in the album. He's stalking Margaret, and is watching her in secret as she meets William.
Not at all true. The album is sung by all of the characters, not just the Rake. This is made very clear throughout, and in the official lyrics released by the band.
Not at all true. The album is sung by all of the characters, not just the Rake. This is made very clear throughout, and in the official lyrics released by the band.
Not at all true. The album is sung by all of the characters, not just the Rake. This is made very clear throughout, and in the official lyrics released by the band.
Not at all true. The album is sung by all of the characters, not just the Rake. This is made very clear throughout, and in the official lyrics released by the band.
I read the "prettiest whistles" bit as "No matter how pretty and charming you are, you can still fall in love and get inescapably hooked"- William implying that he's already in love with Margaret, and she'll soon feel the same about him ("You'll learn soon enough").
And as far as the rape interpretation... no, can't see it. They both seem to be stupid in love with each other, but William seems a bit too starry-eyed to actually go around raping people.
As a side note: up until the Interlude and the Rake's Song, the whole album seems very reminiscent of the Tam Lin story; after that, of course, there's no "hold me fast, and fear me not" bit, but the wandering into the wilderness, being seduced by a fairy/changeling, falling in love, and returning to him seems very familiar- am I imagining it?
William isn't singing this song, though. I know it's easy to assume that, since the song starts out calling Margaret his one true love, but that's the narrator speaking, who is The Rake introduced later in the album. He's stalking Margaret, and is watching her in secret as she meets William.
William isn't singing this song, though. I know it's easy to assume that, since the song starts out calling Margaret his one true love, but that's the narrator speaking, who is The Rake introduced later in the album. He's stalking Margaret, and is watching her in secret as she meets William.
Not at all true. The album is sung by all of the characters, not just the Rake. This is made very clear throughout, and in the official lyrics released by the band.
Not at all true. The album is sung by all of the characters, not just the Rake. This is made very clear throughout, and in the official lyrics released by the band.
Not at all true. The album is sung by all of the characters, not just the Rake. This is made very clear throughout, and in the official lyrics released by the band.
Not at all true. The album is sung by all of the characters, not just the Rake. This is made very clear throughout, and in the official lyrics released by the band.