Theme
8:23pm April 1, 2014

The above song is “Stumpside” by Rasputina, with lyrics included.  I have a question about it, which I’ll post below the lyrics:

All that I have is this dull paring knife 
Peeling potatoes for the rest of my life 
Dirt floors bring dust so I hope for the best 
I carry candles with pains in my chest 

Face tied together with three times used string 
Follow me see what I mean 

Fixing a fencepost or feeding a cow 
Two penny saltlick I never ask how 
Animals like me though folks turn away 
I like the pigeons I like what they say 

Face tied together with three times used string 
Follow me see what I mean 

We come alone and leave alone and we look the horse in the mouth 
We scratch the skin and break the bone and see birds migrating south. 

By the side of the stump where she told us these things 
If you hear a bell ring you get some wings. 
Don’t bother looking for what I’ve neglected to bring. 
By the side of the stump where she told us these things 
If you hear a bell ring you get some wings. 
She’s fallen farther than feathers that float in the wind. 

I saw a wishing well down by the stream 
I never understood what wishes mean 
Just ask for nothing you get what you get. 
I asked for something I’ve not got it yet. 
Face tied together with three times used string 
Follow me see what I mean 

We come alone and leave alone and look the horse in the mouth 
We scratch the skin and break the bone and see birds migrating south. 

By the side of the stump where she told us these things 
If you hear a bell ring you get some wings. 
Don’t bother looking for what I’ve neglected to bring. 
By the side of the stump where she told us these things 
If you hear a bell ring you get some wings. 
She’s fallen farther than feathers that float in the wind.

So… Rasputina frequently has songs that have some actual basis in something.  As in, some historical event, or some idea.  This song seems to be making a lot of references to things that are extremely specific, and yet I can’t make out what they are.

My friend once described this as “the Livejournal of an undead milkmaid”, which is the best description I’ve heard so far, although I’m certain it’s not what Rasputina intended.  I’ve often thought it was about a disabled woman of some sort, but that doesn’t account for everything.  I just talked to a guy who said that possibly she was a witch, or was accused of witchcraft, and that maybe the “three-times-used string” was an ingredient in a spell, or something.  I’d also heard someone suggest leprosy at one point.

Anyway, if anyone has any idea about this, could they let me know?  I just have this sense that Rasputina were referring to something very specific (like in Identity Tokens, or 1816, or really half of their songs at any given time… like the way Old Yellowcake was a convoluted reference to a specific, modern battle) and I don’t know what it is.

I like the song anyway, regardless of what it turns out to be about, of course.  I’m just curious if anyone else sees something I can’t, here.