Long story long - It's the aftermath of the entire Separation Sunday/Charlemagne "murder" story.
Long story long - It's the aftermath of the entire Separation Sunday/Charlemagne "murder" story.
Craig Finn intentionally left out all of the proper names for his characters on "Stay Positive", but it's the same overall story --
Craig Finn intentionally left out all of the proper names for his characters on "Stay Positive", but it's the same overall story --
Charlemagne is a small-time dealer who owes 7 grand to the Cityscape Skins, which is Gideon's former gang.
Charlemagne is a small-time dealer who owes 7 grand to the Cityscape Skins, which is Gideon's former gang.
Holly and Charlemagne hook up, and then break up, because that night that she got born again, he was getting with her little hoodrat friend.
Holly and Charlemagne hook up, and then break up, because that night that she got born again, he was getting with her little hoodrat friend.
That friend is Mary/Sapphire, who has the visions of the future. At first, those visions come...
That friend is Mary/Sapphire, who has the visions of the future. At first, those visions come in handy for betting on the ponies ("Chips Ahoy").
Meanwhile, Holly falls in with Gideon ("I heard Gideon did you in Denver.")
At first, Holly doesn't say where Charlemagne is hiding out -- (if they ask, "just be polite, say something vague.") But at some point, out of jealousy or drug-fueled weakness, she probably tips off Gideon's friends, and the trap is set.
Throughout Stay Positive, we alternately hear about 1 or 2 townies getting killed in the woods. In "Both Crosses" and "Yeah Sapphire", we learn that Mary has been having visions of Charlemagne's murder. ("She saw the footage right before it got cut/she saw 'em stick a body in a bag in the trunk/she saw the guys comin in from the sides/baby that's how we get sanctified".) Charlemagne doesn't even blame Holly - saying "hey, I still love you, Judas."
Anyway, based on "Slapped Actress" and visions came in handy, and it's hinted that while Charlemagne got stabbed, he doesn't get killed after all. He's back to hiding out in Ybor City, where the story all began.
The first verses are Holly or Gideon saying -- don't tell anyone anything about Ybor City and Charlemagne. Don't even mention Tampa. Don't mention bloodshed. Don't mention the Skins. Don't say you saw "angels" -- they'll take you straight to the church.
The second half of the song is more generalized -- Craig Finn using the film "Opening Night" and some Shakespeare "All the World's a Stage"-esque lyrics to address the larger themes or life and making your own destiny, with a little religious imagery crossed with rock-n-roll imagery and the phrase "Hold Steady" thrown in for fun.
I need to know what this amazing song is about!
Long story long - It's the aftermath of the entire Separation Sunday/Charlemagne "murder" story.
Long story long - It's the aftermath of the entire Separation Sunday/Charlemagne "murder" story.
Craig Finn intentionally left out all of the proper names for his characters on "Stay Positive", but it's the same overall story --
Craig Finn intentionally left out all of the proper names for his characters on "Stay Positive", but it's the same overall story --
Charlemagne is a small-time dealer who owes 7 grand to the Cityscape Skins, which is Gideon's former gang.
Charlemagne is a small-time dealer who owes 7 grand to the Cityscape Skins, which is Gideon's former gang.
Holly and Charlemagne hook up, and then break up, because that night that she got born again, he was getting with her little hoodrat friend.
Holly and Charlemagne hook up, and then break up, because that night that she got born again, he was getting with her little hoodrat friend.
That friend is Mary/Sapphire, who has the visions of the future. At first, those visions come...
That friend is Mary/Sapphire, who has the visions of the future. At first, those visions come in handy for betting on the ponies ("Chips Ahoy").
Meanwhile, Holly falls in with Gideon ("I heard Gideon did you in Denver.")
At first, Holly doesn't say where Charlemagne is hiding out -- (if they ask, "just be polite, say something vague.") But at some point, out of jealousy or drug-fueled weakness, she probably tips off Gideon's friends, and the trap is set.
Throughout Stay Positive, we alternately hear about 1 or 2 townies getting killed in the woods. In "Both Crosses" and "Yeah Sapphire", we learn that Mary has been having visions of Charlemagne's murder. ("She saw the footage right before it got cut/she saw 'em stick a body in a bag in the trunk/she saw the guys comin in from the sides/baby that's how we get sanctified".) Charlemagne doesn't even blame Holly - saying "hey, I still love you, Judas."
Anyway, based on "Slapped Actress" and visions came in handy, and it's hinted that while Charlemagne got stabbed, he doesn't get killed after all. He's back to hiding out in Ybor City, where the story all began.
The first verses are Holly or Gideon saying -- don't tell anyone anything about Ybor City and Charlemagne. Don't even mention Tampa. Don't mention bloodshed. Don't mention the Skins. Don't say you saw "angels" -- they'll take you straight to the church.
The second half of the song is more generalized -- Craig Finn using the film "Opening Night" and some Shakespeare "All the World's a Stage"-esque lyrics to address the larger themes or life and making your own destiny, with a little religious imagery crossed with rock-n-roll imagery and the phrase "Hold Steady" thrown in for fun.