The Decemberists: The Tain Meaning

The Tain Lyrics

PART I

crone: here upon this pillow
made of reed and willow
you're a fickle little twister
are you sweet on your sister?
your phallo won't leave you alone.

and granted for their pleasure
possesions laid to measure
she's a salty little...

1. anonymous

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   Dec 7th 2008 !⃝

   This song follows the epic tail, The Tain Bo Cuailnge, which chronicles a battle between King Aillil and his wife Madb over a prize bull. What I've taken from the lyrics is this:
   
   Part I seems to be directed toward the King Aillil and his reasons for engaging in a war with his wife
   
   Part II is a conversation possibly between Aillil and the Captain of his army, in which Aillil is determined to get the bull; "and baby needs a new prize, baby needs a new and shiny prize"
   
   Part III seems to be about Ferdiad going to meet his fate at the hands of his foster-brother. "Here come loose his hounds" would refer to Cuchulainn since he got his name from defeating the Wolfhound of Culann. The chaplain also references the curse put on the Ulstermen for having tortured a pregnant woman, "and now stricken with pangs that tear at our backs like thistle down, the mirror's soft silver tain reflects our last and birthing hour"
   
   Part IV and Part V are a little confusing, but Part IV seems to be about the storytellers that have passed the story done through hundreds of years before it was finally written done. The verse, "When the dawn comes to greet you, you'll rise with clothes on and advance with the others, singing old songs of cattle and maidens and withered old queens. Let the music carry you on" speaks in the past tense about the events of the story.
   
   I took Part V to be about Finnabair's lying with Roachad, which led to his capture and the deaths of 700 men. The verse would then be her lamenting at what she has done.
   
   There are a few other references that can be picked up here and there. The crone that speaks at the beginning and end I took to be the Morrigan in one of her disguises. She follows Cuchulainn through much of the story, first stating she loves him and then in attempting to cause his downfall when he rejects her.
   
   This is just one interpretation; please feel free to post any references that I may have gotten wrong or that I have missed.

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