"Turn of the Century", 1978:
Jon A. has spoken of becoming a friend of the painter
(sometimes sculptor...) Marc Chagall in Paris in 1970-something, around the time when Anderson became known as an amateur painter.
Anderson has also told another story which is not strictly historical:
When the Chagalls moved from Russia to Europe and Marc became the incredibly famous painter (this would be around1920), Chagall's perhaps less adaptive wife was absolutely unsuited and not prepared.
Deprived of Marc's masculine strengths due to the world's demands on his incredible talent, and feeling so lost in a new environment, "she died" as the song says.
Anderson might have said "she killed herself", but that's so dramatic.
(anyway Bella died in 1954, a very long time to spend dying).
Anyway Chagall himself died in 1985 and since then
Anderson has hinted this tale is an element
in this particular song...
and the parallels are abundant, but the story itself, &
what a story - is not strictly true.
The song though.... is one of their more direct lyrics -and the guitar pyrotechnics make it holy and sublime.
"Turn of the Century", 1978: Jon A. has spoken of becoming a friend of the painter (sometimes sculptor...) Marc Chagall in Paris in 1970-something, around the time when Anderson became known as an amateur painter.
Anderson has also told another story which is not strictly historical: When the Chagalls moved from Russia to Europe and Marc became the incredibly famous painter (this would be around1920), Chagall's perhaps less adaptive wife was absolutely unsuited and not prepared. Deprived of Marc's masculine strengths due to the world's demands on his incredible talent, and feeling so lost in a new environment, "she died" as the song says. Anderson might have said "she killed herself", but that's so dramatic. (anyway Bella died in 1954, a very long time to spend dying). Anyway Chagall himself died in 1985 and since then Anderson has hinted this tale is an element in this particular song... and the parallels are abundant, but the story itself, & what a story - is not strictly true. The song though.... is one of their more direct lyrics -and the guitar pyrotechnics make it holy and sublime.
AMEN man
AMEN man