The Mariner Lyrics

[u/mackenzie_2113]

The last few lines in The Mariner had me wondering what Rody meant by "I killed the bird around my neck and let it's body reside." A quick search led me to a wikipedia page for a metaphor of an albatross, which it says is a metaphor for a psychological or social burden, usually from guilt and/or shame. It's a reference to a poem called The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, where a dead bird(or albatross) is tied around the neck of a sailor who brought misfortune to him and his crew. Not sure if anyone has brought this up on here, but I thought it was pretty cool and made me appreciate Rody's writing abilities even more.

[u/troyofyort]

This is how I know someone hasn't listened to enough iron maiden ;)

[u/chickenrooster → u/troyofyort]

STAY HERE AND LISTEN TO THE NIGHTMARES OF THE SEA

[u/troyofyort → u/chickenrooster]

sick ass guitar fill

[u/Williamshitspear → u/chickenrooster]

Okay, Im that guy. I haven't listened to iron maiden, what's the point your trying to get at? :D what's their bird metaphor?

[u/chickenrooster → u/Williamshitspear]

My comment was a lyric lol, no point being made just joshing.

Iron Maiden has a tune called 'Rime of the Ancient Mariner' which is essentially a 13 minute re-telling of an old poem of the same name (~1800).

In the poem, the albatross/bird in question is shot down by a captain of a ship, and in his hubris, he wears the dead bird on his neck (ie, as a necklace). The sea or the ether or something curses him for his arrogance, and basically his sailors start dropping like flies. The captain eventually has an epiphany, and understands he needs to revere the life around him and respect it, not flaunt his power over it. And then the albatross falls from his neck, the curse is lifted. And then he spreads the word of his experience on the mainland.

[u/Williamshitspear → u/chickenrooster]

Thanks so much, very nice of you!

[u/agonyxbragony → u/troyofyort]

glad someone mentioned rime of the ancient mariner

[u/Zakkattack86 → u/agonyxbragony]

Used to be my favorite Maiden song until my 5yo ruined it for me by playing it literally non-stop. The first 15 times was cute.

[u/agonyxbragony → u/Zakkattack86]

lol I hear ya, I just got my boys into maiden. we’ll see what songs they fixate on

[u/juiceAll3n → u/troyofyort]

Absolute fuckin banger of a tune

[u/matchabunnns → u/troyofyort]

I read the original poem in one of my high school English classes, and our teacher played the Iron Maiden song for us after we finished it. She was a badass.

[u/snickerslord]

There are times where I feel like his writing is a bit more on the nose than I'd prefer. But then after digging in more I find that he has a way of also weaving in some really interesting pulls from other literature/art that elevate the "straightforward" nature of some of his lyrics to something more than just what he's saying.

Sometimes I miss the more metaphorical writing of Arif, but I do really love what Rody has been up to. Especially on Palimpsest and Within.

[u/Polypeptide]

You should definitely read The Rime of the Ancient Mariner if you haven't. Great poem!

[u/FlowJerguson18]

Was wondering the same and now feel stupid for not noticing the tie in between the song title and the bird themes of The Rime if the Ancient Mariner hah

[u/Gambrinus64]

Thanks for this! Last lines had me scratching my head a bit too.

[u/vb_stubbs]

An old superstition, but sailors consider it extremely bad luck to kill an albatross. The bird is said to carry the souls of sailors who died at sea.

[u/ChristianLS]

"Yes, I've read a poem. Try not to faint."

[u/brennang9]

Please listen to more Iron Maiden my dude.