The singer is this Mr. Forbes' housekeeper, assistant, mistress, or even wife - a woman who lives with him/under his roof [and is in love with him, whether overtly or secretly]. He wants to move away/leave her, so she resorts to hiding/discarding/destroying some of his belongings, in order to detain him [seeing as: 1) if she lives there and must know her way around the house; 2) the likes of a cello or harp aren't easily misplaced]. While this sounds like an impishly funny act of mischief, its utter conspicuousness actually denotes a sad sense of despair - she is basically admitting her inferiority to a bunch of inanimate objects - he could well go without her, but he "can't go without that". So we get an ironic mix of childish denial and resignation, of hopelessness and the bittersweet empty gratification of petty revenge.
It makes sense... but I can't see it within the lyrics. I can't see it tied together. But I do like your interpretation. Did you get this info by research? Or just your opinion?
It makes sense... but I can't see it within the lyrics. I can't see it tied together. But I do like your interpretation. Did you get this info by research? Or just your opinion?
@greed22 AWESOME interpretation.
Here's mine.
The singer is this Mr. Forbes' housekeeper, assistant, mistress, or even wife - a woman who lives with him/under his roof [and is in love with him, whether overtly or secretly]. He wants to move away/leave her, so she resorts to hiding/discarding/destroying some of his belongings, in order to detain him [seeing as: 1) if she lives there and must know her way around the house; 2) the likes of a cello or harp aren't easily misplaced]. While this sounds like an impishly funny act of mischief, its utter conspicuousness actually denotes a sad sense of despair - she is basically admitting her inferiority to a bunch of inanimate objects - he could well go without her, but he "can't go without that". So we get an ironic mix of childish denial and resignation, of hopelessness and the bittersweet empty gratification of petty revenge.
Hope that makes sense.
It makes sense... but I can't see it within the lyrics. I can't see it tied together. But I do like your interpretation. Did you get this info by research? Or just your opinion?
It makes sense... but I can't see it within the lyrics. I can't see it tied together. But I do like your interpretation. Did you get this info by research? Or just your opinion?