The Tanager is a Western bird, and it's predator is the Owl. Maybe the relationship it insinuates is a predatory relationship? Where one preys on the other? And as the other preys, the relationship is waiting to die. I have always seen the "cage" as a place of being trapped, where the Tanager cannot escape it's death from the Owl. To me the image of blood means something costly, like a sacrifice, or something painful. It could be romantic, or could it not be. It could be any relationship with a human being where you feel trapped and preyed upon. I think it's written to not be understood, or vague so multiple people can relate. I could be wrong though. Just an opinion.
Very nice and I think you are right on...it is a truly amazing song...the tanager is a brightly colored songbird (both eastern and western), and the owl is the much larger mysterious predator. The owl is the "cheater" and "predator", the tanager is the "prey", even though this is the case in the song, it is not the typical case in actual nature. The tanager is a diurnal bird (active during the day), and most owls are nocturnal (active during the night). So the owl and the tanager do not have typical relations with one another, and perhaps this is...
Very nice and I think you are right on...it is a truly amazing song...the tanager is a brightly colored songbird (both eastern and western), and the owl is the much larger mysterious predator. The owl is the "cheater" and "predator", the tanager is the "prey", even though this is the case in the song, it is not the typical case in actual nature. The tanager is a diurnal bird (active during the day), and most owls are nocturnal (active during the night). So the owl and the tanager do not have typical relations with one another, and perhaps this is metaphorical to how the author sees his relationship (boy and boy?) and perhaps it is shunned by society. The following lyrics possibly confirm this hypothesis "In seven hours I consider death And your father called to yell at me You little boy, you little boy" and "You said you'd wait for me Down by Tannery Creek Far out by the roadside where we used to kiss behind the sheets" hints at a secret relationship and it has gone bad with cheating and possible abuse. The relationship ends badly...but thanks for all the comments..an stunning dark and mysterious song.
The Tanager is a Western bird, and it's predator is the Owl. Maybe the relationship it insinuates is a predatory relationship? Where one preys on the other? And as the other preys, the relationship is waiting to die. I have always seen the "cage" as a place of being trapped, where the Tanager cannot escape it's death from the Owl. To me the image of blood means something costly, like a sacrifice, or something painful. It could be romantic, or could it not be. It could be any relationship with a human being where you feel trapped and preyed upon. I think it's written to not be understood, or vague so multiple people can relate. I could be wrong though. Just an opinion.
Very nice and I think you are right on...it is a truly amazing song...the tanager is a brightly colored songbird (both eastern and western), and the owl is the much larger mysterious predator. The owl is the "cheater" and "predator", the tanager is the "prey", even though this is the case in the song, it is not the typical case in actual nature. The tanager is a diurnal bird (active during the day), and most owls are nocturnal (active during the night). So the owl and the tanager do not have typical relations with one another, and perhaps this is...
Very nice and I think you are right on...it is a truly amazing song...the tanager is a brightly colored songbird (both eastern and western), and the owl is the much larger mysterious predator. The owl is the "cheater" and "predator", the tanager is the "prey", even though this is the case in the song, it is not the typical case in actual nature. The tanager is a diurnal bird (active during the day), and most owls are nocturnal (active during the night). So the owl and the tanager do not have typical relations with one another, and perhaps this is metaphorical to how the author sees his relationship (boy and boy?) and perhaps it is shunned by society. The following lyrics possibly confirm this hypothesis "In seven hours I consider death And your father called to yell at me You little boy, you little boy" and "You said you'd wait for me Down by Tannery Creek Far out by the roadside where we used to kiss behind the sheets" hints at a secret relationship and it has gone bad with cheating and possible abuse. The relationship ends badly...but thanks for all the comments..an stunning dark and mysterious song.