The Wife
Unseen Suffering: The Hidden World of 'The Wife'
Lyrics
The wife
The central character is referred to as "The wife."
Her eyes are never seen
Her eyes are always concealed or hidden.
She hides inside from crowding streets
She avoids crowded streets by staying indoors.
She has a tongueless mouth, always whispering
Metaphorically, she speaks quietly or indirectly.
According to him
Refers to the perspective of another person, possibly her spouse.
According to him she is
The husband's perception of her character.
An angel with claws and tender bones
She is portrayed as both angelic and possessing a fierce side.
Always does what she's told
She obediently follows instructions without question.
Her blood dried on the kitchen walls
Implies a violent incident with her blood on the kitchen walls.
She lives inside a bone bowl of which no one knows
She exists in a hidden and mysterious state.
Green moss is taking over her feet
Symbolic imagery of decay or neglect affecting her.
She is not meant to see, nor to be seen
She is not meant to observe or be observed.
She is the wife no one knows about
Emphasizes her concealed and overlooked status.
She is
Reiteration of her identity as "The wife."
She is the wife
Repetition, highlighting her role and existence.
You hear she's breathing too loud
Others notice her breathing, possibly perceiving her presence.
A fair reason, leave her tonight
Suggests a reason to abandon her, emphasizing her disposability.
As you drop her in the middle of the sea
A dark decision to discard her in the sea, implying abandonment.
Watch her float and sink into bliss
Imagery of her sinking, possibly finding peace or release.
The smell of warm tears and gold
Describes the aftermath with sensory details of warmth and wealth.
The sound of her aching bones, clattering on white tiled floors
Highlights the grim aftermath with the sound of her bones.
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