June 1866
Mourning Tide Lyrics


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Majestic swagger of the penknife
To consummate the courtship, red ribbons
His glass took her round the bend

They carved S.O.S. across the bed
The theater lights have come ablaze

Red ribbons everywhere
They let the ghouls of the wicked stampede from an open mouth
He never was into the opera
She accepted the leading role...

Mirrors, she's Medusa on the stage
Her fans, linger their fingers on the blade
Slumber, only falls when she's away
Unveil, the locust of his dreams in camouflage

When they retired to take the night
She grew dead blue, nothing left to say
He had done her in with a voodoo curse

Back in 1979, my mamma told me, she told me this sorry tale
Well I walked the line
I've had some devils after me, boy don't quote me i'm not a saint
But i've done my time; lord knows i've retired here down by the lake
Having dinner with the voodoo lady





The night's a deadly shade of blue, raise the alarm, red ribbons

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Mourning Tide's song "June 1866" depict a dark and haunting tale of courtship, passion, and eventual demise. The first verse sets the tone with the "majestic swagger of the penknife" and "red ribbons" used in a courtship ritual. The imagery of a glass taking someone "round the bend" suggests the characters' descent into madness or obsession. The chorus uses evocative symbols, such as "S.O.S. across the bed" and "theater lights," to create a sense of danger and drama.


The second verse shifts to the character of the woman, who is portrayed as a dangerously seductive figure, like the mythical creature Medusa. The fans who "linger their fingers on the blade" suggest both worship and violence. The lines "slumber, only falls when she's away / unveil, the locust of his dreams in camouflage" suggest that the man is haunted by his desires and may be using the woman as a kind of escape or obsession. Finally, the last stanza brings in a narrator who tells a personal story, possibly linking the themes to their own life.


Overall, the song paints a vivid picture of a relationship gone wrong, with elements of horror, passion, and tragedy. It leaves a lot of room for interpretation and analysis, making it a compelling piece of art.


Line by Line Meaning

Majestic swagger of the penknife
The knife was like a king, with a powerful and confident presence.


To consummate the courtship, red ribbons
The red ribbons were used to bring their relationship to a fulfilling end, perhaps as a symbol of their connection or passion.


His glass took her round the bend
The alcohol in his glass made her lose her inhibitions and go down a path of recklessness.


They carved S.O.S. across the bed
The couple left a message of distress on the bed, indicating that they were in trouble or danger.


The theater lights have come ablaze
The atmosphere was filled with energy and excitement, like the lights of a theater coming on for a show.


Red ribbons everywhere
The red ribbons were a prominent and meaningful presence in the scene.


They let the ghouls of the wicked stampede from an open mouth
Something terrible was unleashed, like demons pouring out of an open portal.


He never was into the opera
He didn't enjoy the grand spectacle of the opera or other similar performances.


She accepted the leading role...
She embraced the challenge and responsibility of being the main character in their story.


Mirrors, she's Medusa on the stage
She had a powerful and mesmerizing presence, like the mythical creature Medusa, when performing onstage in front of mirrors.


Her fans, linger their fingers on the blade
Her admirers were drawn to the danger and thrill of her performance and touched the sharp object she held.


Slumber, only falls when she's away
He could only sleep peacefully when she wasn't around to disturb him.


Unveil, the locust of his dreams in camouflage
He revealed the truth about his desires and goals, hidden beneath a deceptive facade.


When they retired to take the night
They went to bed and ended their day.


She grew dead blue, nothing left to say
She became lifeless and unresponsive, with no more words or emotion left to share.


He had done her in with a voodoo curse
He had caused harm or misfortune to her with the power of dark magic.


Back in 1979, my mamma told me, she told me this sorry tale
He recounted a sad story that his mother had told him a long time ago.


Well I walked the line
He followed the rules and stayed on the right path, avoiding trouble or mistakes.


I've had some devils after me, boy don't quote me i'm not a saint
He has faced many difficult challenges or temptations, but he doesn't consider himself a perfect or holy person.


But i've done my time; lord knows i've retired here down by the lake
He has fulfilled his responsibilities or served his punishment and is now living a peaceful life by the water.


Having dinner with the voodoo lady
He is spending time with a mysterious and possibly dangerous woman who practices voodoo magic.


The night's a deadly shade of blue, raise the alarm, red ribbons
The situation is dangerous and desperate, and the red ribbons are a symbol of distress or warning.




Contributed by Lucy P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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