Elsie Crashed the Party
Elsie's Rebellion: A Tale of Love, War, and Homemade Leather
Lyrics
A round of loud birds, a round of scaly bends,
A chaotic and discordant atmosphere represented by loud birds and scaly bends.
A round like trench warfare and my brother's back again
Reference to the harshness of life, likened to trench warfare, with the return of a problematic brother.
Elsie crashed the party in a homemade leather dress
Elsie, possibly a symbolic figure, disrupts a gathering in an unconventional leather dress.
My love and I build her a sled and dragged her to her rest
The narrator and their love construct a sled for Elsie and lead her to her final resting place, suggesting a departure or end.
All the cities on the edge of the land
Reference to coastal cities facing challenges, possibly reflecting the precarious nature of life.
Where salty waves push sand under the door
Imagery of waves bringing sand under the door, symbolizing the encroachment of difficulties.
Are full of people who don't understand
Observation that people in these cities may not comprehend the narrator's choice to avoid involvement in war.
Why we have chosen to stay out of the war
The narrator's decision to stay out of the war is emphasized, perhaps driven by unconventional motivations.
These longings drive us to the edge of town
Longings lead the narrator to the outskirts of town, where decisions are made about old houses.
Where old houses may stand or we may knock em down
Contemplation of whether to preserve or demolish old houses, suggesting a choice between tradition and change.
It isn't malice, it's not a game
Clarification that the narrator's actions are not motivated by malice or a game.
And not even Elsie will leave as she came
Suggesting that even Elsie, a disruptive force, won't depart in the same manner she arrived.
All the cities...
Reiteration of the challenges faced by coastal cities, emphasizing their misunderstood nature.
We broke the law and left the porch light on
The narrator admits to breaking the law but leaves the porch light on, indicating a contradictory stance.
The sun is brighter than a hydrogen bomb
A comparison of the sun's brightness to a hydrogen bomb, possibly highlighting the intensity of reality.
Thirsty and damaged I answer the door
The narrator, in a vulnerable state, responds to a visitor at the door, possibly Elsie.
To Elsie my creation, my creature from the north
Elsie is referred to as the narrator's creation, a creature from the north, suggesting a personal connection.
All the cities...
Reiteration of the challenges faced by coastal cities, emphasizing their misunderstood nature once again.
Comment