Abraham's Daughter Lyrics

Lyric discussion by atalia831 

Cover art for Abraham's Daughter lyrics by Arcade Fire

As opposed to the Biblical account where Abraham is told by the angel at the last second to spare Isaac, this song supposes that a daughter followed them up the mountain and Abraham mistook her voice for the angel's. The angel then decides to let the daughter take the place of Isaac as the sacrificial lamb/ram, but she defies this decision as well by raising her bow to fight. The angered angel declares that she'd better let young Isaac go - because she will not get to be with him no matter the outcome.

This interpretation can directly parallel the story with the angel symbolizing the Capitol, Abraham symbolizing District 12, Isaac symbolizing Prim, and the nameless daughter symbolizing Katniss.

Song Meaning

@atalia831 I agree, but I would add that she is nameless because is not like the other people in district. In the literal sense Katniss does not play an official role in her day to day activties- hunting and selling to peace keepers- and this sets her away from town life. It is remeniscent of our black market having 'faceless' men. On a biblical/historical level, a daughter of Abraham may not have been as important as a son and therefore not named. In England and even China boys and girls were simply named 'third son' or 'fifth child' for a long...