I keep reading reviews that suggest this song is about advising the "local bombshell" to shake off the dust of her provincial town and go to the bright lights of the big city, but I don't think it's that, exactly - I think she's queer.
The "fabled blisses" she's tabling are dreams of a love that she can't openly have in her closed-minded "dead town." That's why her father's blessing provides her with secret chainmail, that's why the dough boys (sounds like "dull boys" to me) are so confused by her. The "open mouths" could be about her beauty, but they could also be about the shock on people's faces when she comes out (or is outed.)
He's looking forward to the day she can live somewhere more accepting, and her dream can become a reality. I sort of imagine him singing this to a teenage niece or something.
I keep reading reviews that suggest this song is about advising the "local bombshell" to shake off the dust of her provincial town and go to the bright lights of the big city, but I don't think it's that, exactly - I think she's queer.
The "fabled blisses" she's tabling are dreams of a love that she can't openly have in her closed-minded "dead town." That's why her father's blessing provides her with secret chainmail, that's why the dough boys (sounds like "dull boys" to me) are so confused by her. The "open mouths" could be about her beauty, but they could also be about the shock on people's faces when she comes out (or is outed.)
He's looking forward to the day she can live somewhere more accepting, and her dream can become a reality. I sort of imagine him singing this to a teenage niece or something.