I wish I could understand this song better. My best interpretation is the “voice” of the song is a woman who seems to view herself as someone who has no place— someone who is always fleeting. Hence, knowing her by firelight (impermanent), [his] bed where she’s lain (past tense), the wind on the hill (untraceable), and this is why she only brings pain, and none of the other “fine” things she referenced— gold, silver, spanish lace. Now, the death aspect of the song is what throws me—is she speaking of metaphorical death, or literal death? I get the metaphorical vibe in the first verse on death, but a literal vibe in the last verse about her death. And the last line, where the stone knows her by no other name besides “dead,” is that supposed to make us think the “no other name” of the entire song is supposed to be the “name” dead? As in, she is dead to everyone? It would make sense literally and metaphorically then I guess, considering she sees herself as this completely impermanent entity. If so, the song is a little more morbid than I originally thought, but either way I have to agree with the other comment— curious and rather depressing lyrics. “I’ll die alone, away from my home. Nobody knows where I came” — an extreme sentiment of detachment. I’m interested in the mind of whoever wrote this song— I think it was Paul.
I wish I could understand this song better. My best interpretation is the “voice” of the song is a woman who seems to view herself as someone who has no place— someone who is always fleeting. Hence, knowing her by firelight (impermanent), [his] bed where she’s lain (past tense), the wind on the hill (untraceable), and this is why she only brings pain, and none of the other “fine” things she referenced— gold, silver, spanish lace. Now, the death aspect of the song is what throws me—is she speaking of metaphorical death, or literal death? I get the metaphorical vibe in the first verse on death, but a literal vibe in the last verse about her death. And the last line, where the stone knows her by no other name besides “dead,” is that supposed to make us think the “no other name” of the entire song is supposed to be the “name” dead? As in, she is dead to everyone? It would make sense literally and metaphorically then I guess, considering she sees herself as this completely impermanent entity. If so, the song is a little more morbid than I originally thought, but either way I have to agree with the other comment— curious and rather depressing lyrics. “I’ll die alone, away from my home. Nobody knows where I came” — an extreme sentiment of detachment. I’m interested in the mind of whoever wrote this song— I think it was Paul.