Original Air-Blue Gown Lyrics

Lyric discussion by MilkyJoe 

Cover art for Original Air-Blue Gown lyrics by Mountain Goats, The

What's the deal with the title? It's from "The Voice" by Thomas Hardy:

Can it be you that I hear? Let me view you, then, Standing as when I drew near to the town Where you would wait for me: yes, as I knew you then, Even to the original air-blue gown!