Is the Owl the main speaker in the beginning? It specifies the Owl only later, but the mix of different sights and times go along with the quick flying ability of the bird. The Owl has been everywhere and seen everything, even Charlotte Corday's knife, from the violent French Revolution (thanks NotTheEyes) is just a repetition of what's happened before. All is untied in the end, the Owl proclaims, so that it may be repeated (all circles end where they begin, after all).
The Owl seems to be surprised by the Walrus, for even though he's all alone, he has something, the joy of being set free. Walrus offers Owl the knowledge of God, how to encounter him. Jacob's ladder refers to the instance at Bethel in which God first communicated to Jacob directly, and allowed him to experience His presence.
Some have commented on other songs in the album, and on Weiss symbology in past albums, that water represents God's presence. A fish in water, for one. Although the Walrus is alone, and the album's philosophy focuses on the need for others, the Walrus mentions "water on the land," probably the peaceful rivers the Owl talks about at the end. So the Walrus does not walk in a desert like the speaker of Aubergine; he travels in communion with water, since he's a semi-aquatic mammal. The evaporation "running dry" of the rivers, forming clouds, may be bringing that presence into the Owl's sphere of life, his wondering at the experience.
The Owl in the last quote voices some doubt, would it satisfy? He's seen everything undone on earth, so could heavenly joy be undone, the ladder leading away from God's joyful presence?
Is the Owl the main speaker in the beginning? It specifies the Owl only later, but the mix of different sights and times go along with the quick flying ability of the bird. The Owl has been everywhere and seen everything, even Charlotte Corday's knife, from the violent French Revolution (thanks NotTheEyes) is just a repetition of what's happened before. All is untied in the end, the Owl proclaims, so that it may be repeated (all circles end where they begin, after all).
The Owl seems to be surprised by the Walrus, for even though he's all alone, he has something, the joy of being set free. Walrus offers Owl the knowledge of God, how to encounter him. Jacob's ladder refers to the instance at Bethel in which God first communicated to Jacob directly, and allowed him to experience His presence.
Some have commented on other songs in the album, and on Weiss symbology in past albums, that water represents God's presence. A fish in water, for one. Although the Walrus is alone, and the album's philosophy focuses on the need for others, the Walrus mentions "water on the land," probably the peaceful rivers the Owl talks about at the end. So the Walrus does not walk in a desert like the speaker of Aubergine; he travels in communion with water, since he's a semi-aquatic mammal. The evaporation "running dry" of the rivers, forming clouds, may be bringing that presence into the Owl's sphere of life, his wondering at the experience.
The Owl in the last quote voices some doubt, would it satisfy? He's seen everything undone on earth, so could heavenly joy be undone, the ladder leading away from God's joyful presence?