I interpret this from a woman's perspective, but not necessarily a lesbian's. I see it as a heartbroken woman who has lost her lover (it could really be any way, but for some reason I always imagine that her husband was sent to war) and is thinking about the dangers of being a woman in the city at night, surrounded by creepy men. I guess this doesn't really make that much sense with the fourth stanza, but it's always how I have seen it.
I interpret this from a woman's perspective, but not necessarily a lesbian's. I see it as a heartbroken woman who has lost her lover (it could really be any way, but for some reason I always imagine that her husband was sent to war) and is thinking about the dangers of being a woman in the city at night, surrounded by creepy men. I guess this doesn't really make that much sense with the fourth stanza, but it's always how I have seen it.