In the beginning of the song, it's being sung by an invisible observer. A narrator and not a character.
"He was so kind, such a gentleman tied to the ocean side
Lighting a match on the suitcase's latch in the fading of night."
The line, "tied to the ocean side," brings to mind an image of being chained. The man in this story feels "tied down" in his current state, probably a relationship, but up to this point he's masqueraded as the loyal, faithful type. Because of his commitment issues, he packs up and leaves while his girlfriend is sleeping.
"Ruffle the fur of the collie 'neath the table
Ran out the door through the dark
Carved out his initials in the bark"
The collie symbolizes a stable, "American dream" type life. You know, the house, dog and picket fence. So maybe these two are just married and he's had second thoughts. He carves his initials in the tree as a way of saying goodbye - implying he's too cowardly to say it face to face.
"Then the Earth shook, that was all that it took for the dream to break
All the loose ends would surround me again, in the shape of your face."
Now we're in the voice of the girl he left. The "dream" of love and a family life is gone. She still loves him, though. Why?
"What makes me love you despite the reservations?
What do I see in your eyes?
Besides my reflection hanging high?"
She's questioning why she even cares about him. Despite the fact that he ran out on her, despite the fact that he left without warning, despite the fact that he shattered their future together, she's still in love anyway. "My reflection hanging high" is like...a soul mate. When you find someone that's so perfect you feel like you share the same soul. (yeah yeah yeah sappy I know)
"Are you off somewhere reciting incantations?
'Sim Sala Bim!' on your tongue?
Carving off the hair of someone's young?"
The only thing she can do is wonder where he is, what he's doing, and who with. I don't get the hair thing though.
"Remember when you had me cut your hair?
Call me 'Delilah' then, I wouldn't care."
Now I'm reminded of the Samson and Delilah story, where hair is a source of strength. Remember that he saw marriage as being "tied to the ocean side," so maybe he also saw it as being stripped of his power. Now the "carving off the hair of someone's young" line makes sense! She's wondering if he's involved with another woman, "cutting her hair" meaning tying her down. Maybe he loves this other person enough to marry her.
I reaaaallly need to learn how to summarize better but I'm too lazy :) Does anyone get what I'm trying to say?
In the beginning of the song, it's being sung by an invisible observer. A narrator and not a character.
"He was so kind, such a gentleman tied to the ocean side Lighting a match on the suitcase's latch in the fading of night."
The line, "tied to the ocean side," brings to mind an image of being chained. The man in this story feels "tied down" in his current state, probably a relationship, but up to this point he's masqueraded as the loyal, faithful type. Because of his commitment issues, he packs up and leaves while his girlfriend is sleeping.
"Ruffle the fur of the collie 'neath the table Ran out the door through the dark Carved out his initials in the bark"
The collie symbolizes a stable, "American dream" type life. You know, the house, dog and picket fence. So maybe these two are just married and he's had second thoughts. He carves his initials in the tree as a way of saying goodbye - implying he's too cowardly to say it face to face.
"Then the Earth shook, that was all that it took for the dream to break All the loose ends would surround me again, in the shape of your face."
Now we're in the voice of the girl he left. The "dream" of love and a family life is gone. She still loves him, though. Why?
"What makes me love you despite the reservations? What do I see in your eyes? Besides my reflection hanging high?"
She's questioning why she even cares about him. Despite the fact that he ran out on her, despite the fact that he left without warning, despite the fact that he shattered their future together, she's still in love anyway. "My reflection hanging high" is like...a soul mate. When you find someone that's so perfect you feel like you share the same soul. (yeah yeah yeah sappy I know)
"Are you off somewhere reciting incantations? 'Sim Sala Bim!' on your tongue? Carving off the hair of someone's young?"
The only thing she can do is wonder where he is, what he's doing, and who with. I don't get the hair thing though.
"Remember when you had me cut your hair? Call me 'Delilah' then, I wouldn't care."
Now I'm reminded of the Samson and Delilah story, where hair is a source of strength. Remember that he saw marriage as being "tied to the ocean side," so maybe he also saw it as being stripped of his power. Now the "carving off the hair of someone's young" line makes sense! She's wondering if he's involved with another woman, "cutting her hair" meaning tying her down. Maybe he loves this other person enough to marry her.
I reaaaallly need to learn how to summarize better but I'm too lazy :) Does anyone get what I'm trying to say?
I completely missed the suitcase bit, so great job. You helped me understand more of the song. I agree with your interpretation!
I completely missed the suitcase bit, so great job. You helped me understand more of the song. I agree with your interpretation!