Act IV: Rebirth and Reprise - The Dear Hunter
Track List:
Rebirth
The Old Haunt
Waves
At the End of the Earth
Remembered
A Night on the Town
Is There Anybody Here
The Squeaky Wheel
The Bitter Suite IV and V: The Congregation and the Sermon in the Silt
The Bitter Suite VI: Abandon
King of Swords (Reversed)
If All Goes Well
The Line
Wait
Ouroboros
Here we are again!
Well it’s been a busy day and I’ve waited to hear this until the end. Hopefully this will be an overall uninterrupted listen. I am wondering where this goes. Does the boy confront his father? Does he try to assume his half brother’s life? How does the war affect him? Does he ever meet back up with Ms. Leading and if so does he figure out a way to overlook her profession? How has the band changed with 5 years of growth and multiple albums between this one and the last act? Oh so many questions!
Rebirth
This starts much like the first album. I think that the boy is going to try to assume his half brother’s identity. I suppose this also means that his father is dead too?
The Old Haunt
So I think that the boy has been able to take the place of his half brother. But now he is having problems assimilating to society. It appears he is getting advice from his new mother, she tells him that if his fears keep him from pursuing his dreams they will consume him.
Waves
Waves make me think of water or sound. This is the boy returning home via boat. He seems to be pining for Ms. Leading perhaps but seems to accept they aren’t meant to be in the end. Note he is terrified about the ship sinking and is prepared to die.
At the End of the Earth
I think this is the meeting of the boy and his “mother” . It's from the mother’s perspective. She accepts the boy but knows that both her husband and son died in the war. This is her goodbye to her family and acceptance of what is left of her husband being delivered to her. The guitar and piano at the end of the lyrics. That’s great.
Remembered
Well someone died and the boy is singing about her. I don’t know who died. Either he is having some sort of moral qualm that is worried that this companionship with his new “mother” and getting over the death is Ms. Terri. Or new “mom” croaked which is probably more likely given his experience with death he is probably beyond mommy issues. I do like the call back to the first album again. The line “The Flame might be gone but the fire remains” was a reference to Ms. Terri. The song ends on the same line but missing the last word. Ominous.
A Night on the Town
Wow, he goes out on the town and seems to be having a good time. He encounters Ms. Leading and the mood completely changes.
Is There Anybody Here
The boy is having trouble assimilating to his new life. He passes off his not knowing his past by sleeping late and just acting aloof. However he is still deeply in love with Ms. Leading.
The Squeaky Wheel
I am not sure if this is Ms. Leading’s point of view or another woman’s. His brother may have been in a relationship? I think that is the case. She realizes it’s not the same person but is apparently willing to try to make it work still.
The Bitter Suite IV and V: The Congregation and the Sermon in the Silt
The boy might be going back to the church? It’s the sermon the guy is giving but also is referencing the brothel.
The Bitter Suite VI: Abandon
The preacher seems to be bargaining with the boy offering a deal where they both get more power and money, the boy would act as his pawn.
King of Swords (Reversed)
The boy agreed to become a pawn for the preacher and is either grateful or realizing how indebted he really is.
If All Goes Well
The boy seems to have accepted this messiah like figure tale that the preacher has spun for him.
The Line
It’s a breakup song. I don’t know who’s.
Wait
I like the way it starts. The boy laments on his faith.
Ouroboros
So the boy is a city leader or something now. And the preacher is making sure his activities are all overlooked.
That was cool
So I think he has fully accepted his new identity and has worked with the preacher to get into a city office. The preacher is now using him to maintain protection for himself. He fully gave up on Ms. Leading and he may be in a relationship with his brother's partner. I am not sure if his new mom is alive but she knew he wasn’t her son when they first met and accepted him. I think there was genuine mothers love towards him.
I also like the allusions here. The tarot reference. Like I wonder if the song is a realistic interpretation of the card read as the King of Swords (Reversed). Also the Ouroboros is an apt representation of the relationship between the boy and the preachers.
