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Mary, carry your babe
Bound up tight like lips around a whimper
Your fingers over my face
Blind-eyed Samson driven to the temple
And night birds digging until dawn
Freedom hangs like heaven over everyone
Ain't nobody knows what the newborn holds
But his mama says he'll walk on water
And wander back home
Mary, carry your shame
Well past all those eyes across the avenue
Fish heads running from rain
You know I'll do anything you want me to
Lamp oil lovers may say
"Freedom hangs like heaven over everyone"
Ain't nobody knows what the newborn holds
But his papa's going to hide shaking gristle
And shaking like bone
Mary, carry my name
Hoof marks hacked up all I had to offer you
Looked all over this place
Lost your portrait lately when the winter blew
In like Herod and them
Freedom hangs like heaven over everyone
Anybody knows what the newborn holds
But a dollar says he'll lick that devil
And do it alone
Bound up tight like lips around a whimper
Your fingers over my face
Blind-eyed Samson driven to the temple
And night birds digging until dawn
Freedom hangs like heaven over everyone
Ain't nobody knows what the newborn holds
But his mama says he'll walk on water
And wander back home
Mary, carry your shame
Well past all those eyes across the avenue
Fish heads running from rain
You know I'll do anything you want me to
Lamp oil lovers may say
"Freedom hangs like heaven over everyone"
Ain't nobody knows what the newborn holds
But his papa's going to hide shaking gristle
And shaking like bone
Mary, carry my name
Hoof marks hacked up all I had to offer you
Looked all over this place
Lost your portrait lately when the winter blew
In like Herod and them
Freedom hangs like heaven over everyone
Anybody knows what the newborn holds
But a dollar says he'll lick that devil
And do it alone
Lyrics submitted by pumkinhed
Track duration: 04:01
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This is a really confusing state for him to find himself in. He's supposed to be the man; he thought he'd prepared a good life for himself and his bride, but then this baby happened, and suddenly here they are, political refugees, on the run from place to place, trying to protect this fragile little bundle from murderous soldiers ("hoof-marks hacked up all I had to offer you").
On top of that, their friends and families probably all think she's a liar and is just trying to hide the fact that she's conceived out of wedlock ("carry your shame") - which also makes Joseph look a bit of a fool. If she *is* lying, then he really is a blind Samson to her Delilah, being led towards his doom, all for the sake of a woman.
In short, he's staked all he has on this woman and her crazy assertions, and he has to admit he's terrified, but there's something about her that makes him trust her. If she's right about how important this child is going to prove to be, maybe freedom is just around the corner - for them, and maybe for others too. And for his part, he's betting his 'dollar' on it.
However, he falls in love with Delilah, a Philistine woman, and she convinces him to tell her the secret of his strength, i.e., that he never cuts his hair. She then has a servant cut his hair while he's sleeping, and he loses his strength, allowing the Philistines to capture him. They gouge out his eyes and make him a slave.
The Philistines then make thanksgiving sacrifices to their god, and call Samson to the temple to 'entertain' them. In the temple, he prays for God to restore his strength one final time. He then knocks down the central pillar of the temple, bringing the roof down and crushing everyone inside, including himself.
For the biblical account, go here (chapters 13-17): biblegateway.com/passage/
but can anyone elaborate more on the first few lines of the first stanza?? there could be nothing to elaborate on, but especially the line "blind-eyed sampson driven to the temple" is that another biblical figure i should know about? haha, i know absoulutley nothing on the bible and that is no good when you are an iron & wine fan
I'm an atheist and I still think this song is beautiful. I agree about the having our own thoughts part, but you should give him a little more credit. Thanks. And, learn to spell (or at least read over what you write before submitting it) =)
And I can list more idiotic people than said atheists. Talk about a low blow. Lame and immature.
The first and second paragraphs are obvious; Mary and Mary Magdalene.
The third I see as a reference to Mary of Bethany. She, her sister Martha, and little bro Lazarus were visited by Jesus & co. many times, including shortly before the crucifixion.
They were apparently well off financially as Mary anointed Jesus with expensive perfume. Judas, of all people, objected to her extravagence, but Jesus defended her actions. She took the scented oil and poured it over Jesus's feet, annointing them, the same way they do to royalty.
This was a not-so-subtle hint she was kind of anointing him as a king, the messiah.
"Freedom hangs like Heaven"... Heaven is out of reach in life. All three women's lives were shaped by this legendary figure. They could never really escape from important roles they played in Jesus's life.
None of the Marys had normal lives. They couldn't go out and mingle like ordinary women. They all had parts to play. True freedom was out of reach for them.