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Trigger?
editDoes the protagonist actually pull the trigger? The lyric "My Brother's riffle went off in my hand", could refer to a malfunction.
Guns, particularly ones that have been badly maintained, can go off entirely by accident, this is why most gun clubs require that weapons are kept unloaded, with the chamber open while they are not pointed down the range. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 194.72.81.2 (talk) 15:51, 26 February 2010 (UTC)
- I've updated the description to more closely match the lyrics.--Trystan (talk) 18:47, 28 May 2010 (UTC)
Lyrics
editI've updated the description of the plot to more closely match the original lyrics. In particular, "sheen" in the Cash cover is "stream" in Sting's version. In Sting's book of song lyrics, he supposes that Cash was using a misheard or mistranscribed text. "Salt lands" is also the original lyric, rather than "south lands". I don't see any support for inferring an Irish setting. I will update with a proper citation to the book when able.--Trystan (talk) 18:46, 28 May 2010 (UTC)
Change to "Theme"?
editI think that he wasn't "awaiting execution on the gallows".
In the lyrics he says "Early one morning/With time to kill/I see the gallows/Up on a hill ... I prayed for God's mercy/For soon I'd be dead ... I hung my head" and I feel that he isn't awaiting the gallows, instead he hangs himself because of the regret and guilt he feels from killing the man, and the repercussions to the man's family as a result. I feel this is evident from the final four "I hung my head", as that line throughout the song takes every different meaning it can (in order of appearance: let the head drop forwards/"my head in my hands"/"I beg their forgiveness" or praying/hanging himself).
I don't know if the lyrics have been officially explained, but that is my take on them, and I feel that the song holds greater significance that way. 112.213.148.97 (talk) 05:15, 19 February 2013 (UTC)
- It still has a potential different meaning, as in "Through my actions, I have brought about my own execution on the gallows." Ideally, we would have a reliable secondary source for the plot summary and interpretation, but I'm not sure one exists.--Trystan (talk) 03:56, 28 November 2017 (UTC)