This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Driving home I see those flooded fields
How can people not know what beauty this is
I've taken it for granted my whole life
Since the day I was born
Clouds hang on these curves like me
And I kneel to the wheel
Of the fox confessor on splendid heels
And he shames me from my seat
And on my guilty feet
I follow him in retreat
What purpose in these deeds
Oh fox confessor please
Who married me to these orphaned blues
"It's not for you to know, but for you to weep and wonder
When the death of your civilization precedes you."
Will I ever see you again
Will there be no one above me to put my faith in
I flooded my sleeves as I drove home again
How can people not know what beauty this is
I've taken it for granted my whole life
Since the day I was born
Clouds hang on these curves like me
And I kneel to the wheel
Of the fox confessor on splendid heels
And he shames me from my seat
And on my guilty feet
I follow him in retreat
What purpose in these deeds
Oh fox confessor please
Who married me to these orphaned blues
"It's not for you to know, but for you to weep and wonder
When the death of your civilization precedes you."
Will I ever see you again
Will there be no one above me to put my faith in
I flooded my sleeves as I drove home again
Lyrics submitted by delial, edited by smallwonderrobot
Fox Confessor Brings the Flood Lyrics as written by Paul Rigby Neko Case
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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cokemachineglow.com has an amazing, in-depth interpretation of Neko's entire album, explaining the referneces and themes from Ukranian fairy tales. Heres what they say about this song:
Fox Confessor's title is taken from Ukrainian mythology -- the fable of the (cunning, ruthless) fox and the (naive, defeated) wolf. Circumstances vary with each telling, but the message is practically the same: the fox, thirsting for the wolf's need for absolution, cons its way into assuming the role of the trusted confessor, then promptly uses that relationship to abandon/seduce/kill/eat/generally fuck over its unsuspecting prey. In one telling, the fox fools the wolf into believing it can control the ocean's tides. The trusting wolf, naive enough to believe the fox has the power to control nature, heads into the swelling ocean, only to wash up on shore a pathetic stiff/delicious meal moments later. So, to grossly oversimplify some really harsh but "darkly funny" (according to Neko) animal mythology, "Fox Confessor Brings the Flood" = the person/wild animal/concept/higher power that you put your faith in fools you, so not only are your sins not absolved, there's this big (pre- existent, not actually of confessor's control) shit-flood that's gonna wreck you and leave you either abandoned and begging for sweet reprieve or corpsed up on your predator's doorstep like the old guy who married Anna Nicole Smith Fox Confessor's title track, sequenced right in the middle of the record, locks horns with that mythology, directly integrating its imagery and tone into her own characters. Here, she (the fictional "she," not Neko) drives by "beautiful" flooded fields in the first verse and floods her own sleeves (finally realizing she has nothing to "hold [her] faith in," she breaks down) in the last. Both scenes bookend a confrontation with the fox confessor, who she follows, guilt-riden, in "retreat." But in retreat from what? The flooded fields? Well, no -- in those she finds "beauty," as any good gothic protagonist would. It's the flooded sleeves, the emotional manifestation of her "orphan blues," that leaves her so vulnerable and defeated. So, when the fox confessor tells her that it's not her fault and understands her frustration ("'it's not for you to know / but for you to weep and wonder / when the death of your civilization precedes you'"), of course she's going to follow him, accepting that wherever it leads her will be a step up from what she's going through. She ultimately gives in because she's burdened with a monumental sense of loss: of faith, self-respect, options, love, power, hope, sanity, all that good shit. She's inundated by an overwhelming lack of control and direction, left a pessimistic emotional wreck that'd rather accept a foolishly romanticized concept of death than deal with her own demons.
heres the link to the article, DEFINITELY read it if you like Neko Case.
cokemachineglow.com/reviews/nekocase_fox2006.html
Hmm, reminds me of Japan. "Flooded fields"... those beautiful brilliant green flooded rice fields... and many of the little shrines you see are dedicated to a god of agriculture and wealth (damn, what was his name? I'm blanking out) whose messengers are fox-spirits. You can usually see foxes flanking the shrine, or a little fox figurine inside it.
Hmm, reminds me of Japan. "Flooded fields"... those beautiful brilliant green flooded rice fields... and many of the little shrines you see are dedicated to a god of agriculture and wealth (damn, what was his name? I'm blanking out) whose messengers are fox-spirits. You can usually see foxes flanking the shrine, or a little fox figurine inside it.
cokemachineglow.com has an amazing, in-depth interpretation of Neko's entire album, explaining the referneces and themes from Ukranian fairy tales. Heres what they say about this song:
Fox Confessor's title is taken from Ukrainian mythology -- the fable of the (cunning, ruthless) fox and the (naive, defeated) wolf. Circumstances vary with each telling, but the message is practically the same: the fox, thirsting for the wolf's need for absolution, cons its way into assuming the role of the trusted confessor, then promptly uses that relationship to abandon/seduce/kill/eat/generally fuck over its unsuspecting prey. In one telling, the fox fools the wolf into believing it can control the ocean's tides. The trusting wolf, naive enough to believe the fox has the power to control nature, heads into the swelling ocean, only to wash up on shore a pathetic stiff/delicious meal moments later. So, to grossly oversimplify some really harsh but "darkly funny" (according to Neko) animal mythology, "Fox Confessor Brings the Flood" = the person/wild animal/concept/higher power that you put your faith in fools you, so not only are your sins not absolved, there's this big (pre- existent, not actually of confessor's control) shit-flood that's gonna wreck you and leave you either abandoned and begging for sweet reprieve or corpsed up on your predator's doorstep like the old guy who married Anna Nicole Smith Fox Confessor's title track, sequenced right in the middle of the record, locks horns with that mythology, directly integrating its imagery and tone into her own characters. Here, she (the fictional "she," not Neko) drives by "beautiful" flooded fields in the first verse and floods her own sleeves (finally realizing she has nothing to "hold [her] faith in," she breaks down) in the last. Both scenes bookend a confrontation with the fox confessor, who she follows, guilt-riden, in "retreat." But in retreat from what? The flooded fields? Well, no -- in those she finds "beauty," as any good gothic protagonist would. It's the flooded sleeves, the emotional manifestation of her "orphan blues," that leaves her so vulnerable and defeated. So, when the fox confessor tells her that it's not her fault and understands her frustration ("'it's not for you to know / but for you to weep and wonder / when the death of your civilization precedes you'"), of course she's going to follow him, accepting that wherever it leads her will be a step up from what she's going through. She ultimately gives in because she's burdened with a monumental sense of loss: of faith, self-respect, options, love, power, hope, sanity, all that good shit. She's inundated by an overwhelming lack of control and direction, left a pessimistic emotional wreck that'd rather accept a foolishly romanticized concept of death than deal with her own demons.
heres the link to the article, DEFINITELY read it if you like Neko Case.
cokemachineglow.com/reviews/nekocase_fox2006.html
@lilstacyQ Thank you for this.! It is very insightful and intriguing, and gives the song a whole new understanding and depth.
i know im probably very wrong, but is this about earth conservation? or the descent of mankind?
This is a concept album at its finest... I'm so glad to have downloaded it and to listen to it, under-appreciated as it is.