Lyric discussion by SkylinePigeon 

Does anyone think there may be a connection between Isaiah and William? Isaiah was "buried in an urn" and William was rescued from a "cradle of clay." I'm still trying to figure out what the "cradle of clay" would be referring to, if anyone has ideas....

Well it could be a few things.

For one, she could be referring the the soil he was laying on, which might well have a lot of clay. There's also a chance that she means a literal cradle made from clay, but I don't think that's terribly likely. What I think the the most likely interpretation is his body - Genesis describes Adam being formed from clay, and clay is often used as a metaphor for human flesh.

I totally agree. I'm taking way too much liberty with this, but I think of the cradle of clay like half the urn broken off from the rest facing upward in a cradle type shape. Or maybe just the urn in general. There's too much there to say that there's no possible connection between the characters. It would just be so Decemberists-y to throw in a twist that's not really explained publically.

or at all. Isaiah shows up as a ghost in "The Hazards of Love 3 (Revenge)". How could he be dead with his sisters, and yet alive (as William) chasing after The Rake to save Margaret. I agree it seems like there should be some link between the two, but I can't see how this is it.

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