Question about Still Life

hibernal_dream said:
Damn. I started reading this thread and thought wow, this forum has taken a miraculous turn for the good - people actually responding reasonably to posts and being nice, no NFU/all sins/in absentia crap. Then i noticed the date. :erk:

Same here.
 
While we're on the topic of Still Life, I kind of think Melinda became a nun as opposed to getting married. That's the only explanation I can think of for the line "a harlot of God upon the earth." But from the point of view of the protagonist, it's the same thing, since she's sworn a vow to someone else, more or less, that excludes him.
 
Jude said:
While we're on the topic of Still Life, I kind of think Melinda became a nun as opposed to getting married. That's the only explanation I can think of for the line "a harlot of God upon the earth." But from the point of view of the protagonist, it's the same thing, since she's sworn a vow to someone else, more or less, that excludes him.

Married to god! That seems to make a lot of sense. Maybe that's why her infidelity is so heinous in the eyes of the Council of the Cross.
 
~random~ said:
Married to god! That seems to make a lot of sense. Maybe that's why her infidelity is so heinous in the eyes of the Council of the Cross.
Yes! Although of course either kind of infidelity would be bad...but I think this theory holds up better.

Any other takes on it?
 
hibernal_dream said:
Damn. I started reading this thread and thought wow, this forum has taken a miraculous turn for the good - people actually responding reasonably to posts and being nice, no NFU/all sins/in absentia crap. Then i noticed the date. :erk:

I know when an old thread has been bumped just by how nice the people are compared to now. But I don't think you got the 'bad people' right... but I don't want to start a shitstorm so I'll keep to myself:loco:
 
Oh and I always thought Melinda and the bloke were true loves but she was promised to somebody else yet still was 'with' the main bloke. I can't think of any lyrics to support that though so someone prove me wrong:p
 
biggsy said:
Oh and I always thought Melinda and the bloke were true loves but she was promised to somebody else yet still was 'with' the main bloke. I can't think of any lyrics to support that though so someone prove me wrong:p
Well....that IS the case. It's just that I'm proposing the "other" instead of being a man, was, figuratively, God.
 
Thanks, man!
I never thought of this but it explains a lot of things concerning the concept of Still Life. Your theory gives me a whole new perspective when reading the lyrics of the album. :)
 
the concept to still life is awesome. that god thing really makes a lot of sense... might give the album anothor listen tonight. in bed. with headphones.
 
I find it a little bit humorous to think of the protagonist coming back to his town for a nun. Because, you know, I picture nuns as portly old women.
 
EXTOL said:
It is a concept album-the story according to Mikeal Akerfeldt is as follows--
A disillusioned man returns to the village of his birth to try and find some redeeming quality in humanity. Full of hate and wanting to die, he happens across his boyhood love, Melinda who is remarried. (the moor) He watches her from afar and realizes that she is the only thing keeping him from madness. (godhead's lament) He watches her one night from afar and sees her fear and lonliness, even though she took a vow to be with another and he secretly wishes that she would come away with him. (benighted) He finally decides that he must risk everything and convince her to come with him, even if its just for one night. (monnlapse vertigo) He approaches her and they speak of forbidden feelings and she admits that she still loves him-"My promise is made but my heart is thine" (face of melinda) They run away together and take shelter in each others arms, but as they drift to sleep, the townspeople find them-"Awaoke from hibernal dream, no longer by my side" they take melinda and cut her throat"red line round her neck, melinda reflected in shafts" He goes insane and kills as many of the townspeople as possible but they manage to bring him down (Serenity Painted Death) He faces the hangman and at the monent of death, which he welcomes, he sees Melinda with arms outstreched greeting to the afterlife. (white cluster)

Hope this helps


Wow! Thats a really good story.. Now I love Still Life a whole lot more. This Album has the haunting like vibe just likeMAYH. Thanks!! :worship:
 
SPD has so much more power and emotion if you know it is the guy killing people as revenge for his true love... damn, thats good shit.