I have always kind of thought that this was Peter Gabriel's attempt to show us how easy it is for someone to look at another cultures rituals and twist them into a description that is scary. He points to one of our (western culture) very exciting and enjoyable rituals of a wedding, but takes the perspective of someone who doesn't understand and describes it in terms that cause fear for the listener.
a couple examples that seem pretty clear to me:
Vows of sacrifice - the actual vows of the bride and groom
headless chickens - the meal prepared for the celebration afterward
Dance in circles - the dancing that happens at the reception
and the biggest one...the cutting of the cake:
Silence falls the guillotine
All the doors are shut
Nervous hands grip tight the knife
In the darkness, till the cake is cut
Passed around, in little pieces
@beren14
to add to this, here are some guesses for parts I can't clearly understand because of his poetry, but I am guessing:
@beren14
to add to this, here are some guesses for parts I can't clearly understand because of his poetry, but I am guessing:
a description of the bride getting ready for the ceremony:
Suffocated by mirrors, stained by dreams
Her honey belly pulls the seams
Curves are stiff upon the hinge
Pale zeros tinge the tiger skin
a description of the bride getting ready for the ceremony:
Suffocated by mirrors, stained by dreams
Her honey belly pulls the seams
Curves are stiff upon the hinge
Pale zeros tinge the tiger skin
a description of the the mother of the bride or groom who will be living alone after the son or daughter move on to their own home:
Even as the soft skins tingle
They mingle with the homeless mother
Who loves the day but lives another
That...
a description of the the mother of the bride or groom who will be living alone after the son or daughter move on to their own home:
Even as the soft skins tingle
They mingle with the homeless mother
Who loves the day but lives another
That once was hers
a description of the father of the bride and/or others including possibly the best man preparing speeches and delivering them:
The worried father, long lost lover
Brushes ashes with his broom
Rehearses jokes to fly and hover
Bursting over the bride and groom
I have always kind of thought that this was Peter Gabriel's attempt to show us how easy it is for someone to look at another cultures rituals and twist them into a description that is scary. He points to one of our (western culture) very exciting and enjoyable rituals of a wedding, but takes the perspective of someone who doesn't understand and describes it in terms that cause fear for the listener.
a couple examples that seem pretty clear to me: Vows of sacrifice - the actual vows of the bride and groom headless chickens - the meal prepared for the celebration afterward Dance in circles - the dancing that happens at the reception
and the biggest one...the cutting of the cake:
Silence falls the guillotine All the doors are shut Nervous hands grip tight the knife In the darkness, till the cake is cut Passed around, in little pieces
@beren14 to add to this, here are some guesses for parts I can't clearly understand because of his poetry, but I am guessing:
@beren14 to add to this, here are some guesses for parts I can't clearly understand because of his poetry, but I am guessing:
a description of the bride getting ready for the ceremony: Suffocated by mirrors, stained by dreams Her honey belly pulls the seams Curves are stiff upon the hinge Pale zeros tinge the tiger skin
a description of the bride getting ready for the ceremony: Suffocated by mirrors, stained by dreams Her honey belly pulls the seams Curves are stiff upon the hinge Pale zeros tinge the tiger skin
a description of the the mother of the bride or groom who will be living alone after the son or daughter move on to their own home: Even as the soft skins tingle They mingle with the homeless mother Who loves the day but lives another That...
a description of the the mother of the bride or groom who will be living alone after the son or daughter move on to their own home: Even as the soft skins tingle They mingle with the homeless mother Who loves the day but lives another That once was hers
a description of the father of the bride and/or others including possibly the best man preparing speeches and delivering them:
The worried father, long lost lover Brushes ashes with his broom Rehearses jokes to fly and hover Bursting over the bride and groom