I believe this song is about the American Civil War. This interpretation of the song makes sense given the presence of "Shiloh" on the same album.
The "Jefferson" referenced in the song is Jefferson Davis, who led the Confederacy during the war. His "tears fall down" because of the Confederates' impending defeat after their failure at the Battle of Gettysburg.
"Rain on the road across the Delaware" may refer to Fort Delaware on Pea Patch Island in the Delaware River, where the Union held Confederate prisoners of war. It could also refer to the advancing Union armies that would soon storm across the river and into the South, overwhelming the Confederates.
"A piece of the West broke away" is a direct reference to the Southern States' secession from the Union, which prompted the war.
"Bethlehem" is likely to be both a Biblical and geographic reference. First, the Biblical reference: Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem, and both parties to the conflict believed that God was on their respective sides. Yet the belligerents seem to forget Jesus' statement in Matthew 10:34 that he brings not peace, but a sword. This is the "confusion" that arises the closer that the combatants "cling to the gun." The reference to Bethlehem is also significant because of the role of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in the war. The town was home to the Bethlehem Iron Works, which produced armaments for the Union ("born to build the bomb").
"In Pennsylvania there's a bridge that broke. The water washed it on by..." refers to the defeat of Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia at the Battle of Gettysburg, which turned the "tide"of the war decisively in the Union's favor. The Confederates' "bridge" to the North--and to victory--would be forever washed away, and no bulwarks would remain to stem this Union tide.
The singer believes that he should have answered Jefferson Davis' "call" to arms. Because he did not do so, his society - what he believes to be the "West" - will "fall" to the Union.
I believe this song is about the American Civil War. This interpretation of the song makes sense given the presence of "Shiloh" on the same album.
The "Jefferson" referenced in the song is Jefferson Davis, who led the Confederacy during the war. His "tears fall down" because of the Confederates' impending defeat after their failure at the Battle of Gettysburg.
"Rain on the road across the Delaware" may refer to Fort Delaware on Pea Patch Island in the Delaware River, where the Union held Confederate prisoners of war. It could also refer to the advancing Union armies that would soon storm across the river and into the South, overwhelming the Confederates.
"A piece of the West broke away" is a direct reference to the Southern States' secession from the Union, which prompted the war.
"Bethlehem" is likely to be both a Biblical and geographic reference. First, the Biblical reference: Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem, and both parties to the conflict believed that God was on their respective sides. Yet the belligerents seem to forget Jesus' statement in Matthew 10:34 that he brings not peace, but a sword. This is the "confusion" that arises the closer that the combatants "cling to the gun." The reference to Bethlehem is also significant because of the role of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in the war. The town was home to the Bethlehem Iron Works, which produced armaments for the Union ("born to build the bomb").
"In Pennsylvania there's a bridge that broke. The water washed it on by..." refers to the defeat of Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia at the Battle of Gettysburg, which turned the "tide"of the war decisively in the Union's favor. The Confederates' "bridge" to the North--and to victory--would be forever washed away, and no bulwarks would remain to stem this Union tide.
The singer believes that he should have answered Jefferson Davis' "call" to arms. Because he did not do so, his society - what he believes to be the "West" - will "fall" to the Union.