My thoughts are the song is about a girl who thinks everyday things are pointless and unnecessarily complicated. she wants to get away from modern society to a simpler life-She shut her eyes and imagined the desert No cars, no mobiles, just sun and bread . < this is also the relevance of religion in it, because its a simpler time that she wishes for.however the fact she calls them hippies shows that she considers religion a bit of a cult or club, not to be respected. However, this thought may be wrong considering the fact that B&S at=re very religious. Though it mentions the mother is sick, I don't think that's why she feels this way, its more her nature. In fact considering the fact that the comment about her mums health is so late in the song its not relevant, and considering the context ("The choirmaster, usually a bastard, knows her mother's sick. He'll be nice to her,")I think its more to portray the irrationality, predictability and fickle human nature she recognises and condemns.
My thoughts are the song is about a girl who thinks everyday things are pointless and unnecessarily complicated. she wants to get away from modern society to a simpler life-She shut her eyes and imagined the desert No cars, no mobiles, just sun and bread . < this is also the relevance of religion in it, because its a simpler time that she wishes for.however the fact she calls them hippies shows that she considers religion a bit of a cult or club, not to be respected. However, this thought may be wrong considering the fact that B&S at=re very religious. Though it mentions the mother is sick, I don't think that's why she feels this way, its more her nature. In fact considering the fact that the comment about her mums health is so late in the song its not relevant, and considering the context ("The choirmaster, usually a bastard, knows her mother's sick. He'll be nice to her,")I think its more to portray the irrationality, predictability and fickle human nature she recognises and condemns.