These lyrics tell a haunting and introspective story, and each line carries a significant weight in conveying the emotions and themes of the song. Let's analyze them line by line:
"The boy child is locked in the fisherman's yard"
This line sets the stage for the narrative, introducing a young boy who is seemingly trapped in a fisherman's yard. It implies a sense of confinement or captivity.
"There's a bloodless moon where the oceans die"
The imagery of a "bloodless moon" and dying oceans creates a bleak and desolate atmosphere. It suggests a world that is losing its vitality and life force.
"A shoal of nightstars hang fire in the nets"
The "nightstars" here might symbolize lost hopes and dreams that are trapped or ensnared in the metaphorical nets, unable to shine or come to fruition.
"And the chaos of cages where the crayfish lie"
This line amplifies the sense of confinement and chaos, with the crayfish representing other trapped souls or lives in turmoil.
"Where is the fisherman where is the goat?"
These questions suggest a sense of disorientation and searching for answers. The fisherman and the goat could represent important figures or elements in the boy's life.
"Where is the keeper in his carrion coat?"
The "keeper in his carrion coat" implies someone who may be responsible for the boy's captivity, and the term "carrion" suggests decay or death.
"Eclipse on the moon when the dark bird flies"
This line paints a picture of celestial events, symbolizing ominous occurrences or dark moments in the narrative.
"Where is the child with his father's eyes?"
This line highlights the absence of the boy's father and perhaps his longing for a connection or understanding of his paternal heritage.
"These are the soul cages"
This repetition emphasizes the theme of entrapment and captivity, suggesting that the entire setting is filled with trapped souls.
"He's the king of the ninth world"
Introducing the "king of the ninth world" adds an element of power and authority to the story, possibly representing the one who holds the boy captive.
"The twisted son of the fog bells toll"
This description adds an eerie and mysterious quality to the antagonist figure, hinting at a sinister nature.
"In each and every lobster cage, a tortured human soul"
This line poignantly reveals that the cages contain human souls, underscoring the idea that they are not just physical enclosures but also metaphors for emotional suffering.
"These are the souls of the broken factories"
Here, the lyrics connect the idea of captivity to industrial or societal issues, suggesting that the trapped souls are representative of broader problems in society.
"The subject slaves of the broken crown"
This line hints at themes of oppression and subjugation, portraying those in captivity as subjects of a broken and corrupt system.
"The dead accounting of old guilty promises"
This phrase implies a reckoning with unfulfilled commitments and past wrongdoings, adding depth to the narrative.
"'I have a wager' the brave child spoke"
The introduction of the boy's wager introduces a sense of hope and defiance, as he confronts the fisherman.
"The fisherman laughed, though disturbed at the joke."
The fisherman's reaction suggests a mixture of amusement and unease, hinting at a potentially dangerous bet.
"'You will drink what I drink but you must equal me"
The wager involves the boy matching the fisherman's actions, setting up a high-stakes challenge.
"'And if the drink leaves me standing, a soul shall go free'"
The terms of the wager are revealed, where the boy's success could lead to the release of a trapped soul.
"'I have here a cask of most magical wine"
The description of "magical wine" adds an otherworldly and supernatural element to the bet.
"A vintage that blessed every ship in the line"
This description builds the mystique of the wine, hinting at its power to bring good fortune to sailors.
"'It's wrung from the blood of the sailors who died"
This revelation about the wine's origin adds a dark and unsettling dimension to the wager.
"'And what's in it for me my pretty young thing?"
The fisherman's response seems to question the boy's motivation, as he seems skeptical of the boy's willingness to take on the challenge.
"Why should I whistle, when the caged bird sings?"
This line uses the metaphor of a caged bird to suggest that the fisherman has the upper hand and doesn't need to take unnecessary risks.
"If you lose a wager with the king of the sea"
This line reinforces the fisherman's power and authority as the "king of the sea."
"You'll spend the rest of forever in the cage with me"
The consequence of losing the wager is revealed, emphasizing the boy's dire situation if he fails.
"A body lies open in the fisherman's yard"
This line signifies a tragic turn of events, with a body now lying in the yard, possibly a consequence of the wager.
"Like the side of a ship where the iceberg rips"
The imagery of an iceberg ripping the side of a ship adds a sense of disaster and loss.
"One less soul in the soul cages"
This line signifies the loss of another soul, emphasizing the ongoing suffering and death associated with the captivity.
"One last curse on the fisherman's lips"
The song ends with a curse on the fisherman, suggesting that his actions will eventually come back to haunt him.
"Swim to the light"
The closing phrase, "Swim to the light," could be interpreted as a message of hope or liberation, encouraging those trapped in the soul cages to seek freedom and salvation.
In summary, these lyrics are rich in symbolism and vivid imagery, exploring themes of captivity, oppression, and the consequences of one's actions. The narrative unfolds through a series of lines that gradually reveal the bleak and mysterious world inhabited by the boy and the fisherman.
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