This is a story about a man from Eastern Europe, maybe Russia, whose mother passed away while he was young. He was raised on the water, practically by nature itself; then he's tempted to the west, by someone who is considered dangerous. It's surprising to him that he takes the offer, as dangerous as it is. Possible soldier connotations? To me, it sounds like he was signed up for the war (possibly WWII?). This 'devil' mention reminds me of the temptation of Jesus in the desert, which I'll return to in a moment.
Springtime: very symbolic, used to represent new life; however, "the frost and ice followed me" perhaps suggesting that he brings war and strife with him to a place that hasn't even left the harshness of winter yet. He (like many soldiers) sleeps with the local women in the area where he fights. 'The Finest' tempts him (recalling the temptation of Jesus yet again) and he submits to her. His sins don't surprise him this time. (maybe they get married? can't tell, don't think so)
Now, after the war has ended, he travels to America to escape his past. He wants the freedom that the West offers him. He hopes to forget his doomed love with The Finest by watching the dancing girls.
Jesus enters the story now, as people tried to convert him once he went to America. But the churches just remind him of the war (makes it more likely that it was some sort of religious war). The people in the churches remind him of the people he lost on the field, and they way that they blindly believed (burned eyes) disgusted him. When he finally found God, it was in the homeless of America (which is often where the most faithful and the most despondent can be found). It didn't surprise him that he found God amongst those commonly considered sinners.
He reminds us that he's still trying to find a home in this new country. All he wants is freedom, but he can't find it.
@angelumcaedis - Have you ever read Mark Helprin's "Winter's Tale" (not the movie; it's terrible). The lyrics of this song actually do a decent job of telling the backstory of Peter Lake - so good, in fact, that I wouldn't be surprised if the songwriter was doing homage to the story.
@angelumcaedis - Have you ever read Mark Helprin's "Winter's Tale" (not the movie; it's terrible). The lyrics of this song actually do a decent job of telling the backstory of Peter Lake - so good, in fact, that I wouldn't be surprised if the songwriter was doing homage to the story.
This is a story about a man from Eastern Europe, maybe Russia, whose mother passed away while he was young. He was raised on the water, practically by nature itself; then he's tempted to the west, by someone who is considered dangerous. It's surprising to him that he takes the offer, as dangerous as it is. Possible soldier connotations? To me, it sounds like he was signed up for the war (possibly WWII?). This 'devil' mention reminds me of the temptation of Jesus in the desert, which I'll return to in a moment.
Springtime: very symbolic, used to represent new life; however, "the frost and ice followed me" perhaps suggesting that he brings war and strife with him to a place that hasn't even left the harshness of winter yet. He (like many soldiers) sleeps with the local women in the area where he fights. 'The Finest' tempts him (recalling the temptation of Jesus yet again) and he submits to her. His sins don't surprise him this time. (maybe they get married? can't tell, don't think so)
Now, after the war has ended, he travels to America to escape his past. He wants the freedom that the West offers him. He hopes to forget his doomed love with The Finest by watching the dancing girls.
Jesus enters the story now, as people tried to convert him once he went to America. But the churches just remind him of the war (makes it more likely that it was some sort of religious war). The people in the churches remind him of the people he lost on the field, and they way that they blindly believed (burned eyes) disgusted him. When he finally found God, it was in the homeless of America (which is often where the most faithful and the most despondent can be found). It didn't surprise him that he found God amongst those commonly considered sinners.
He reminds us that he's still trying to find a home in this new country. All he wants is freedom, but he can't find it.
@angelumcaedis - Have you ever read Mark Helprin's "Winter's Tale" (not the movie; it's terrible). The lyrics of this song actually do a decent job of telling the backstory of Peter Lake - so good, in fact, that I wouldn't be surprised if the songwriter was doing homage to the story.
@angelumcaedis - Have you ever read Mark Helprin's "Winter's Tale" (not the movie; it's terrible). The lyrics of this song actually do a decent job of telling the backstory of Peter Lake - so good, in fact, that I wouldn't be surprised if the songwriter was doing homage to the story.