(sorry for duplication, but I posted a reply and not a comment, being new! oops! :-0)
I love the double meaning of the line 'his growing seeds don't believe why he's been away' ie the seeds in the containers are like the kids; needing nourishment and care and attention in order to grow and develop. They in their innocence don't believe why he's been away, since they are oblivious to the more serious issues that they don't fully understand or aren't aware of, having more basic needs.
I agree that the emphasis in the song is more about the rumour, partly because the incident is merely alluded to. I think it's interesting that a lot of the comments mention the abuse as if it's true, which kind of mirrors the sense of the tendency of people to gossip without knowing the facts. It's a shame that the accused loses his innocent name whether he is guilty or not, which of course the song can't tell us.
I like the use of the word 'match', since it both represents the start of a rumour, which can cause much destruction - and the playing fields where a football match is played, a possible breeding ground for gossip and group-think. Also, the match burning a thousand trees could be to do with how abuse itself causes many wide-reaching and terrible consequences, such as loss of faith in authority, innocence and relationships; breeds suspicion and mistrust, negative emotions such as shame and guilt - and even abuse itself.
The writer(s) are clearly lamenting the small town mentalities which give rise to the damaging effects of rumour and hearsay. It is sad not just how a reputation can hang on a thread, but how the collective reality of a community can be on shaky foundations; and that more often than not, people will scapegoat an outsider, an oddball, the falsely accused, or any other unfortunate victim who upsets the prevailing belief in what's right, truthful or the norm. Truth can be the casualty and pretentiousness wins.
Having said all that, this song rocks and sounds cool loud!
(sorry for duplication, but I posted a reply and not a comment, being new! oops! :-0)
I love the double meaning of the line 'his growing seeds don't believe why he's been away' ie the seeds in the containers are like the kids; needing nourishment and care and attention in order to grow and develop. They in their innocence don't believe why he's been away, since they are oblivious to the more serious issues that they don't fully understand or aren't aware of, having more basic needs.
I agree that the emphasis in the song is more about the rumour, partly because the incident is merely alluded to. I think it's interesting that a lot of the comments mention the abuse as if it's true, which kind of mirrors the sense of the tendency of people to gossip without knowing the facts. It's a shame that the accused loses his innocent name whether he is guilty or not, which of course the song can't tell us.
I like the use of the word 'match', since it both represents the start of a rumour, which can cause much destruction - and the playing fields where a football match is played, a possible breeding ground for gossip and group-think. Also, the match burning a thousand trees could be to do with how abuse itself causes many wide-reaching and terrible consequences, such as loss of faith in authority, innocence and relationships; breeds suspicion and mistrust, negative emotions such as shame and guilt - and even abuse itself.
The writer(s) are clearly lamenting the small town mentalities which give rise to the damaging effects of rumour and hearsay. It is sad not just how a reputation can hang on a thread, but how the collective reality of a community can be on shaky foundations; and that more often than not, people will scapegoat an outsider, an oddball, the falsely accused, or any other unfortunate victim who upsets the prevailing belief in what's right, truthful or the norm. Truth can be the casualty and pretentiousness wins.
Having said all that, this song rocks and sounds cool loud!