A lot of the previous comments really nailed it on the head, but I just feel this song's story/details may need just a bit more clarrification.
When she mentions Birmingham, I believe she's referring to Birmingham, Alabama, and since it obviously takes place during war time, I would assume this takes place during the US Civil War. During the Civil War, many prostitutes made a living by following the armies, and sleeping with the traveling soldiers. I believe the narrator is one of those women, proven in lines such as "...ashamed that I was, a good friend of American soldiers." and how she refers to herself as a "Playboy Mommy."
And, since birth control was far from advanced back then, this 'playboy mommy' must have gotten pregnant during her 'service.' However, she seemed happy to have a baby, despite not really knowing how to take care of it or keep it happy. And, she was both sad and ashamed to lose it. She asks the child why she wasn't good enough. Was it because she was a prostitute? Because she slept with soldiers? She asks the child not to judge her so hard, and tells her that angels can never take the place of a mother.
'Crossing the bridge' is a metaphor for crossing into the afterlife for the child.
"Little girl they'll do you no harm, 'cause they know your playboy mommy."
The soldiers she tells the child about are also dead, and must have been men she had know and slept with in life, and they won't hurt the child since they knew her mother. Also, because it's most likely that she was imprgenated by a soldier, it's also possibe to imply that one of these dead soldiers may be the child's father.
Throughout the song she asks the child to "come home", as if begging the child to come back to her. But, finally in the end she says "But I'll be home; I'll be home to take you in my arms..." maing one day, she herself will die, and will fly to the child to hold her in Heaven.
A lot of the previous comments really nailed it on the head, but I just feel this song's story/details may need just a bit more clarrification. When she mentions Birmingham, I believe she's referring to Birmingham, Alabama, and since it obviously takes place during war time, I would assume this takes place during the US Civil War. During the Civil War, many prostitutes made a living by following the armies, and sleeping with the traveling soldiers. I believe the narrator is one of those women, proven in lines such as "...ashamed that I was, a good friend of American soldiers." and how she refers to herself as a "Playboy Mommy." And, since birth control was far from advanced back then, this 'playboy mommy' must have gotten pregnant during her 'service.' However, she seemed happy to have a baby, despite not really knowing how to take care of it or keep it happy. And, she was both sad and ashamed to lose it. She asks the child why she wasn't good enough. Was it because she was a prostitute? Because she slept with soldiers? She asks the child not to judge her so hard, and tells her that angels can never take the place of a mother. 'Crossing the bridge' is a metaphor for crossing into the afterlife for the child. "Little girl they'll do you no harm, 'cause they know your playboy mommy." The soldiers she tells the child about are also dead, and must have been men she had know and slept with in life, and they won't hurt the child since they knew her mother. Also, because it's most likely that she was imprgenated by a soldier, it's also possibe to imply that one of these dead soldiers may be the child's father. Throughout the song she asks the child to "come home", as if begging the child to come back to her. But, finally in the end she says "But I'll be home; I'll be home to take you in my arms..." maing one day, she herself will die, and will fly to the child to hold her in Heaven.
I like this interpretation the best.
I like this interpretation the best.