I have a different interpretation. The madman is not really a madman; he is merely perceived as a madman; and he views the ones that see him as a mere curiosity as mad. The madman is a recluse comparable to "The fool on the hill." In the Beatles song, other people considered him a fool, but the fool "never listens to them, he knows that they're the fools. They don't like him. But the fool on the hill sees the sun going down and the eyes in his head see the world spinning round."
The madman "can see very well," a sign of sanity, not insanity. The image he clearly sees is very significant: the boat on the reef with a broken back signifies something broken in his life and that is why he is stranded in life. The joke that he knows very well is "take my word I'm a madman don't you know." In other words, he doesn't consider himself a madman.
The madman was the fool who had a good part in the play; in other words, his life had been good until misfortune (represented by the broken boat) caused him to be where he is today. Others that see him think he is insane, and that everything he says is funny; but clearly the madman does not share their viewpoint. The others quickly leave when it looks like it will "rain." probably a metaphor for trouble. Thus the madman sees these people as very shallow, and have not had the madman's depth of experience (he has had to deal with bigger problems than "rain").
Although the madman is not crazy, what drives him crazy is the in-laws treating him as a freak-show curiousity. When he asks "Is the nightmare black or are the windows painted?" he quickly follows that with another question: "Will they come again next week, can my mind really take it?" In other words, the in-laws are the nightmare and are making him crazy. Finally, the madman asks us to evaluate our own conscience. Is treating him as a freak-show curiousity the right thing to do? This is a rather sensible question for a "madman."
Yep, Mark2Marie, I think you hit the nail on the head.
Yep, Mark2Marie, I think you hit the nail on the head.
Lyricist Bernie Taupin married American Maxine Feibelman in 1971 and this song was released that year. The connotation is that her family viewed her new English husband as "the madman from across the water," though he thought them to be the crazy ones.
Lyricist Bernie Taupin married American Maxine Feibelman in 1971 and this song was released that year. The connotation is that her family viewed her new English husband as "the madman from across the water," though he thought them to be the crazy ones.
I am reminded of the saying: Sometimes it's easier to see from the outside looking in, than it is from the inside looking out, and I think that might be the "joke" he is referring to. Bernie can see out the window, see the...
I am reminded of the saying: Sometimes it's easier to see from the outside looking in, than it is from the inside looking out, and I think that might be the "joke" he is referring to. Bernie can see out the window, see the broken back of the boat which symbolizes a problem with the relationship. He asks, "Is the nightmare black, or are the windows painted?" which suggests that everyone else is casting a blind eye to the situation.
I have a different interpretation. The madman is not really a madman; he is merely perceived as a madman; and he views the ones that see him as a mere curiosity as mad. The madman is a recluse comparable to "The fool on the hill." In the Beatles song, other people considered him a fool, but the fool "never listens to them, he knows that they're the fools. They don't like him. But the fool on the hill sees the sun going down and the eyes in his head see the world spinning round."
The madman "can see very well," a sign of sanity, not insanity. The image he clearly sees is very significant: the boat on the reef with a broken back signifies something broken in his life and that is why he is stranded in life. The joke that he knows very well is "take my word I'm a madman don't you know." In other words, he doesn't consider himself a madman.
The madman was the fool who had a good part in the play; in other words, his life had been good until misfortune (represented by the broken boat) caused him to be where he is today. Others that see him think he is insane, and that everything he says is funny; but clearly the madman does not share their viewpoint. The others quickly leave when it looks like it will "rain." probably a metaphor for trouble. Thus the madman sees these people as very shallow, and have not had the madman's depth of experience (he has had to deal with bigger problems than "rain").
Although the madman is not crazy, what drives him crazy is the in-laws treating him as a freak-show curiousity. When he asks "Is the nightmare black or are the windows painted?" he quickly follows that with another question: "Will they come again next week, can my mind really take it?" In other words, the in-laws are the nightmare and are making him crazy. Finally, the madman asks us to evaluate our own conscience. Is treating him as a freak-show curiousity the right thing to do? This is a rather sensible question for a "madman."
Yep, Mark2Marie, I think you hit the nail on the head.
Yep, Mark2Marie, I think you hit the nail on the head.
Lyricist Bernie Taupin married American Maxine Feibelman in 1971 and this song was released that year. The connotation is that her family viewed her new English husband as "the madman from across the water," though he thought them to be the crazy ones.
Lyricist Bernie Taupin married American Maxine Feibelman in 1971 and this song was released that year. The connotation is that her family viewed her new English husband as "the madman from across the water," though he thought them to be the crazy ones.
I am reminded of the saying: Sometimes it's easier to see from the outside looking in, than it is from the inside looking out, and I think that might be the "joke" he is referring to. Bernie can see out the window, see the...
I am reminded of the saying: Sometimes it's easier to see from the outside looking in, than it is from the inside looking out, and I think that might be the "joke" he is referring to. Bernie can see out the window, see the broken back of the boat which symbolizes a problem with the relationship. He asks, "Is the nightmare black, or are the windows painted?" which suggests that everyone else is casting a blind eye to the situation.
Sadly, the couple divorced in 1976.
@mark2marie this is an excellent interpretation of a very cryptic long. Thanks!
@mark2marie this is an excellent interpretation of a very cryptic long. Thanks!