Children with hooves, symbolic of the Devil, and original sin with which children are supposedly born. (I think the lyrics are "children came in their HOOVES," as opposed to "HOOPS," but I could be totally wrong).
I agree with the abuse suggestion. But I don't think it's about a literal father, I think it's about a priest. The narrator is the abused child. Through the gap in the curtain of the confession chamber, the child can see the feet of the many types of people walking by (all of them people with an obligation to uphold the laws of society, (soldiers, civilians, nurses) except for the children who come in "hooves," sinful children, or "hoops," playful children). But none of them realize what's actually going on. The priest assures the child that he or she is their "favorite," and that what is being done to them is some sort of special redemption, a way to "forgiveness" for the original sin with which they are born (again with the "hooves"). The only witness is the floor.
I see two main religious references here:
I agree with the abuse suggestion. But I don't think it's about a literal father, I think it's about a priest. The narrator is the abused child. Through the gap in the curtain of the confession chamber, the child can see the feet of the many types of people walking by (all of them people with an obligation to uphold the laws of society, (soldiers, civilians, nurses) except for the children who come in "hooves," sinful children, or "hoops," playful children). But none of them realize what's actually going on. The priest assures the child that he or she is their "favorite," and that what is being done to them is some sort of special redemption, a way to "forgiveness" for the original sin with which they are born (again with the "hooves"). The only witness is the floor.