I also listened to TOC, which helped me sort out more of what this song might mean. She mentioned that, when she wrote it, she wasn't intending for it to relate to Ophelia from Hamlet; when she listened to it later on, however, she realized that there was a definite connection between the two.
A few days ago, I went to one of her live concerts and had VIP tickets, so, being in the front row, I could see every emotion on her face as she played this song near the end of the show. When she came to the part that went "How did your father die? Was he a good man?", I noticed that there was a subtle shake of her head, as if she was saying that he wasn't. It was barely visible, but when put alongside the emotion in her voice and the more hopeful tone that she had when singing "Maybe someday, you'll know", I remembered that her father had died of lung cancer a few years ago, in 2006, if I'm correct. On one of her forum posts regarding her father's death, she mentions that he wasn't a very close father, and that his attitude towards anyone, even Emilie, was cold and rather distant. She mentions that he wasn't a bad man, but it can be implied that he wasn't considered to be a good one, either.
Lastly, I find it strange that these connections can be made, since she made this song well before her father's death, but perhaps her own interpretation has changed from what it was originally, as she made the connection between the song and Ophelia's story, and also the later possible connection between the song and her own personal life. This, of course, is just what I've noticed, but is there anyone else who thinks the same as me?
I also listened to TOC, which helped me sort out more of what this song might mean. She mentioned that, when she wrote it, she wasn't intending for it to relate to Ophelia from Hamlet; when she listened to it later on, however, she realized that there was a definite connection between the two.
A few days ago, I went to one of her live concerts and had VIP tickets, so, being in the front row, I could see every emotion on her face as she played this song near the end of the show. When she came to the part that went "How did your father die? Was he a good man?", I noticed that there was a subtle shake of her head, as if she was saying that he wasn't. It was barely visible, but when put alongside the emotion in her voice and the more hopeful tone that she had when singing "Maybe someday, you'll know", I remembered that her father had died of lung cancer a few years ago, in 2006, if I'm correct. On one of her forum posts regarding her father's death, she mentions that he wasn't a very close father, and that his attitude towards anyone, even Emilie, was cold and rather distant. She mentions that he wasn't a bad man, but it can be implied that he wasn't considered to be a good one, either.
Lastly, I find it strange that these connections can be made, since she made this song well before her father's death, but perhaps her own interpretation has changed from what it was originally, as she made the connection between the song and Ophelia's story, and also the later possible connection between the song and her own personal life. This, of course, is just what I've noticed, but is there anyone else who thinks the same as me?
--Vivian Erikson