Oh, but, as far as I can tell, blackguard doesn't mean guard at all, but is an insult for a low-life. I'm not sure if Joanna is just playing with words (if he poisoned the king he would certainly be a blackguard as well as being a guard), but I'm sure she knew blackguard didn't mean a guard. So technically this person could be anyone.
Oh, but, as far as I can tell, blackguard doesn't mean guard at all, but is an insult for a low-life. I'm not sure if Joanna is just playing with words (if he poisoned the king he would certainly be a blackguard as well as being a guard), but I'm sure she knew blackguard didn't mean a guard. So technically this person could be anyone.
Also, now that I'm in the mindset of a poisoning taking place (which I don't think is a historical event) is it possible that it's meant to mean Lola tried to poison the king, but...
Also, now that I'm in the mindset of a poisoning taking place (which I don't think is a historical event) is it possible that it's meant to mean Lola tried to poison the king, but someone else was punished? After all, she came to "watch it go down" as if she knew something would be happening. Not sure if that fits into the rest of the song since I think we ultimately come out believing Lola did love the king, she was just very feisty. This song is still confusing to me.
I think the "blackguard sat hard, down, with no head on him now" is supposed to be taken quite literally. I believe that the man who killed her lover is now being punished for his crime by means of beheading, and Lola is watching on with mixed emotions.
I think the "blackguard sat hard, down, with no head on him now" is supposed to be taken quite literally. I believe that the man who killed her lover is now being punished for his crime by means of beheading, and Lola is watching on with mixed emotions.
What I am saying is not based on any historical background, so it may be easy to refute this interpretation.
What I am saying is not based on any historical background, so it may be easy to refute this interpretation.
the blackguard being an insult makes sense. Someone lost their head for the attempted assassination. Do we know for sure there was no attempted poisoning on the king? There was certainly a change of power. Its not a stretch.
the blackguard being an insult makes sense. Someone lost their head for the attempted assassination. Do we know for sure there was no attempted poisoning on the king? There was certainly a change of power. Its not a stretch.
I don't think Lola wanted the poisoning, but I do think she loved the lifestyle more than the king himself. Lola fled Bavaria when the revolution started (possibly by the failed posioning). My guess is the king wanted her to stay by his side, but...
I don't think Lola wanted the poisoning, but I do think she loved the lifestyle more than the king himself. Lola fled Bavaria when the revolution started (possibly by the failed posioning). My guess is the king wanted her to stay by his side, but...
"And the old king fell from grace,
while Lola fled,
To save face and her career"...
"And the old king fell from grace,
while Lola fled,
To save face and her career"
I'm not sure about the accuracy of my source, but the book I read made it seem that Lola was very reluctant to leave Bavaria. When she finally did, she kept returning, disguised, until the king finally announced that she no longer had any government power and, I believe, allowed for her to arrested if she re-entered (I may be remembering that wrong). Given that, I've been thinking the line you quoted is more of a rumor, and much of the song is Lola's anger at her perception. Not sure though.
I'm not sure about the accuracy of my source, but the book I read made it seem that Lola was very reluctant to leave Bavaria. When she finally did, she kept returning, disguised, until the king finally announced that she no longer had any government power and, I believe, allowed for her to arrested if she re-entered (I may be remembering that wrong). Given that, I've been thinking the line you quoted is more of a rumor, and much of the song is Lola's anger at her perception. Not sure though.
By the way, thanks again for your poisoning addition....
By the way, thanks again for your poisoning addition. I get a little crazy over song interpretation and that clears up so much, so I really appreciate your insights.
the first verse refers to a coup on the king.
From the courtyard, I floated in and watched it go down. Heard the cup drop; thought, "Well, that's why they keep them around."
(What they keep around is a food taster. Someone tried to poision the king)
The blackguard sat hard, down, with no head on him now,
(The king's guard gets his head cut off)
and I felt so bad, cause I didn't know how to feel bad enough to make him proud.
(She feels bad for not feeling bad about the coup and ensuing revolution)
Wonderful. I hadn't even considered the poisoined cup thing and it makes a lot of sense. Thank you so much for adding this!
Wonderful. I hadn't even considered the poisoined cup thing and it makes a lot of sense. Thank you so much for adding this!
Oh, but, as far as I can tell, blackguard doesn't mean guard at all, but is an insult for a low-life. I'm not sure if Joanna is just playing with words (if he poisoned the king he would certainly be a blackguard as well as being a guard), but I'm sure she knew blackguard didn't mean a guard. So technically this person could be anyone.
Oh, but, as far as I can tell, blackguard doesn't mean guard at all, but is an insult for a low-life. I'm not sure if Joanna is just playing with words (if he poisoned the king he would certainly be a blackguard as well as being a guard), but I'm sure she knew blackguard didn't mean a guard. So technically this person could be anyone.
Also, now that I'm in the mindset of a poisoning taking place (which I don't think is a historical event) is it possible that it's meant to mean Lola tried to poison the king, but...
Also, now that I'm in the mindset of a poisoning taking place (which I don't think is a historical event) is it possible that it's meant to mean Lola tried to poison the king, but someone else was punished? After all, she came to "watch it go down" as if she knew something would be happening. Not sure if that fits into the rest of the song since I think we ultimately come out believing Lola did love the king, she was just very feisty. This song is still confusing to me.
I think the "blackguard sat hard, down, with no head on him now" is supposed to be taken quite literally. I believe that the man who killed her lover is now being punished for his crime by means of beheading, and Lola is watching on with mixed emotions.
I think the "blackguard sat hard, down, with no head on him now" is supposed to be taken quite literally. I believe that the man who killed her lover is now being punished for his crime by means of beheading, and Lola is watching on with mixed emotions.
What I am saying is not based on any historical background, so it may be easy to refute this interpretation.
What I am saying is not based on any historical background, so it may be easy to refute this interpretation.
the blackguard being an insult makes sense. Someone lost their head for the attempted assassination. Do we know for sure there was no attempted poisoning on the king? There was certainly a change of power. Its not a stretch.
the blackguard being an insult makes sense. Someone lost their head for the attempted assassination. Do we know for sure there was no attempted poisoning on the king? There was certainly a change of power. Its not a stretch.
I don't think Lola wanted the poisoning, but I do think she loved the lifestyle more than the king himself. Lola fled Bavaria when the revolution started (possibly by the failed posioning). My guess is the king wanted her to stay by his side, but...
I don't think Lola wanted the poisoning, but I do think she loved the lifestyle more than the king himself. Lola fled Bavaria when the revolution started (possibly by the failed posioning). My guess is the king wanted her to stay by his side, but...
"And the old king fell from grace, while Lola fled, To save face and her career"...
"And the old king fell from grace, while Lola fled, To save face and her career"
I'm not sure about the accuracy of my source, but the book I read made it seem that Lola was very reluctant to leave Bavaria. When she finally did, she kept returning, disguised, until the king finally announced that she no longer had any government power and, I believe, allowed for her to arrested if she re-entered (I may be remembering that wrong). Given that, I've been thinking the line you quoted is more of a rumor, and much of the song is Lola's anger at her perception. Not sure though.
I'm not sure about the accuracy of my source, but the book I read made it seem that Lola was very reluctant to leave Bavaria. When she finally did, she kept returning, disguised, until the king finally announced that she no longer had any government power and, I believe, allowed for her to arrested if she re-entered (I may be remembering that wrong). Given that, I've been thinking the line you quoted is more of a rumor, and much of the song is Lola's anger at her perception. Not sure though.
By the way, thanks again for your poisoning addition....
By the way, thanks again for your poisoning addition. I get a little crazy over song interpretation and that clears up so much, so I really appreciate your insights.