I agree, this is loosely based on Flannery O'connor's work it seems, even though Pj is using it to represent themes within her own experiences and reflection on society as well. Flannery O'connor also inspired "a good man is hard to find" by sufjan stevens. I really admire her work and the way she can portray tragic themes of the human spirit so cleverly, this is one of the same reasons i admire pj harvey. In this song in particular there is also somewhat of a play on words such as "hope, joy, and faith" all which can be used as female names, so perhaps there is a suggestion of joy's personality being "personified" into these three different words. I perceive the "wanted to go blind, wanted hope to stay" as indicating that if she didnt see the possibilities of the world that she knows she'll never be able to have, then she could be blissfully be ignorant to them. This would in turn allow her to retain some kind of false "hope" that might come had her condition been in fact worse (where she couldnt even physically see that which she is missing), because at least she wouldnt have to face what she cant have as obviously as she does now. It may be depressing, but it's the awful truth, and it haunts you whether you like it or not. Pjs guitar notes and shrilling voice make one's mood more tolerable and at ease when you find yourself being haunted by an awful truth and trying any form of escape.
I agree, this is loosely based on Flannery O'connor's work it seems, even though Pj is using it to represent themes within her own experiences and reflection on society as well. Flannery O'connor also inspired "a good man is hard to find" by sufjan stevens. I really admire her work and the way she can portray tragic themes of the human spirit so cleverly, this is one of the same reasons i admire pj harvey. In this song in particular there is also somewhat of a play on words such as "hope, joy, and faith" all which can be used as female names, so perhaps there is a suggestion of joy's personality being "personified" into these three different words. I perceive the "wanted to go blind, wanted hope to stay" as indicating that if she didnt see the possibilities of the world that she knows she'll never be able to have, then she could be blissfully be ignorant to them. This would in turn allow her to retain some kind of false "hope" that might come had her condition been in fact worse (where she couldnt even physically see that which she is missing), because at least she wouldnt have to face what she cant have as obviously as she does now. It may be depressing, but it's the awful truth, and it haunts you whether you like it or not. Pjs guitar notes and shrilling voice make one's mood more tolerable and at ease when you find yourself being haunted by an awful truth and trying any form of escape.