To me, the entire album 'Shallow Bed' is about childhood sweethearts growing up in the Bible Belt. Their relationship seems to have started off sweet, but gradually lost it's innocence and died off over the years due to his leaving (in spite of his willingness to return to her when things got bad) and her alcoholic parents. It's possible that the couple were married, and she became ill and passed away ('my flower, struck down in sickness' (Shaker Hymns) 'Lion's Den' being the aftermath of her death and 'Family''s 'follow your mother, your father and brother back home'. it's been established that her mother and father were alcoholics and possibly suicidal (lo and behold! your father had drunk all the fuel).
Anyway, I feel like 'History Book' is about the relationship between the boy and the girl taking a newer level. Not only are they acknowledging that their love, their relationship, is 'as heavy as a history book can be', I believe that 'In my father's car we came to know. And shivered in our painted clothes and paired like every animal below.' is a reference to them losing their virginity to one another in his fathers car (Captain Obvious, tyvm), but the 'bitterness, could be from her losing it (being in a religious community, she could feel a degree of shame), or it could be the bitterness she has to deal with with alcoholic parents/tough childhood. He's trying to comfort her by saying there will be nothing but sweetness once that goes away and he will always love her.
To me, the entire album 'Shallow Bed' is about childhood sweethearts growing up in the Bible Belt. Their relationship seems to have started off sweet, but gradually lost it's innocence and died off over the years due to his leaving (in spite of his willingness to return to her when things got bad) and her alcoholic parents. It's possible that the couple were married, and she became ill and passed away ('my flower, struck down in sickness' (Shaker Hymns) 'Lion's Den' being the aftermath of her death and 'Family''s 'follow your mother, your father and brother back home'. it's been established that her mother and father were alcoholics and possibly suicidal (lo and behold! your father had drunk all the fuel).
Anyway, I feel like 'History Book' is about the relationship between the boy and the girl taking a newer level. Not only are they acknowledging that their love, their relationship, is 'as heavy as a history book can be', I believe that 'In my father's car we came to know. And shivered in our painted clothes and paired like every animal below.' is a reference to them losing their virginity to one another in his fathers car (Captain Obvious, tyvm), but the 'bitterness, could be from her losing it (being in a religious community, she could feel a degree of shame), or it could be the bitterness she has to deal with with alcoholic parents/tough childhood. He's trying to comfort her by saying there will be nothing but sweetness once that goes away and he will always love her.