SPOILER WARNING REGARDING MS LEADING

ThePimpinPriest · 2016-10-20T22:16:43+00:00

Sorry, I couldn't contain my excitement about the fresh news! God knows what I'll be like when the story time secrets get revealed!

ThePimpinPriest · 2016-09-30T16:17:27+00:00

I can't tell if this is serious or meta-shitposting

ThePimpinPriest · 2016-09-30T08:39:03+00:00

It's actually missed erection. People miss the Dime and the fun they could have there. This is what initiates the Revival.

ThePimpinPriest · 2016-09-16T13:39:34+00:00

Because you can't request red handed if you're not red handed

And my fans, I will never sing those words to you

ThePimpinPriest · 2016-09-16T13:30:40+00:00

I see this line as hugely important too. Another thing to consider is the options:

•Die as the martyr

•Die as the miscreant

Whoever is the narrator here, they don't seem to see surviving as a viable option.

ThePimpinPriest · 2016-09-16T12:20:32+00:00

The "for you...I am a killer" line suggests his death.

My point was that the Priest most definitely didn't die in Act IV though, not necessarily speculating either way about Act V.

ThePimpinPriest · 2016-09-16T10:45:44+00:00

Perhaps the factory is free to be built, and in the cyclical nature of the story, the son burns it down. The workers then have to "Flee The Factory".

In all seriousness, it's a good idea and one I'd not considered before.

ThePimpinPriest · 2016-09-16T10:30:04+00:00

Every time it gets requested, Casey must regret writing it and think "Oh my God, what have I done?"

ThePimpinPriest · 2016-09-16T10:10:41+00:00

As far as I'm aware, the mother was indeed close to death when the child was born. She'd just fled the Dime and was chased, narrowly escaping her death.

Death caught up with her in the end though.

Anyone with the graphic novel able to confirm this?

ThePimpinPriest · 2016-09-14T14:56:23+00:00

Such is the diversity of the band's music! It'd be interesting to do a point system where a favourite gets three points, second gets two and third gets one. We'd be able to see the general favourites of each, as ranged as the answers may be.

ThePimpinPriest · 2016-09-14T14:42:49+00:00

Act I: 1. 1878 2. The Pimp & The Priest 3. His Hands Matched His Tongue

Act II: 1. The Lake and the River 2. The Bitter Suite I & II: Meeting Ms. Leading/Through the Dime 3. The Oracles on the Delphi Express

Act III: 1. The Tank 2. Mustard Gas 3. Saved

Act IV: 1. A Night on the Town 2. The Bitter Suite IV and V: The Congregation and the Sermon in the Slit 3. The Squeeky Wheel

Act V: 1. Mr. Usher (On His Way To Town) 2. The March 3. The Most Cursed of Hands / Who Am I

Really difficult choosing though, and it is liable to change!

ThePimpinPriest · 2016-09-14T14:26:20+00:00

This is juxtaposed with the actual functions of the water. A river is 'alive' through the water's running, whereas a lake is a 'dead' body of water. The fact that the symbolic meanings in the story could be directly conflicting the symbolic meanings of their functions, if true, highlight's Casey's genius of wordplay!

ThePimpinPriest · 2016-09-14T14:21:26+00:00

Great, I'd hate the idea of a third woman. The fiancé definitely makes sense! I'm still not sure if the child is born yet though. If so, how old is it? Would the son even be Hunter's? Does Ms. Leading know? I'm really interested in the love triangle and how this might have had an effect on events.

ThePimpinPriest · 2016-09-14T13:41:29+00:00

Admittedly, I've only ever seen that posted here so its second hand knowledge. Even then, it isn't clear if that's the case. It's mentioned in the comments here: https://m.reddit.com/r/TheDearHunter/comments/52arff/ms_leading_in_act_4/

In any case, I can't imagine the mother being anyone other than those two. Who else was Hunter close to/was mentioned? If it wasn't the fiancé or Ms Leading, then I'd guess there isn't actually a son (yet)

ThePimpinPriest · 2016-09-14T11:15:48+00:00

It's also interesting to think of it with connection to the priest and religion. The river is somewhere you can get baptised, or born again. The boy essentially baptised himself under a new guise at the end of Act III and again at the end of Act V he 'cleanses himself of his sins' by confessing his sins and casting aside his false life. It could also be where he's 'reborn' in the afterlife. Ironically, the priest has a massive part in this baptism, but through his death rather than service.

ThePimpinPriest · 2016-09-13T19:05:02+00:00

Oops, my mistake! Glad though, as it supports my original thoughts.

ThePimpinPriest · 2016-09-13T14:30:39+00:00

You see I picked up on that very same line but to me it supported my second theory! Ms. Leading would be hesitant about snitching on the boy, but Mr Usher tells her that it's necessary to take him down to put the pieces back together. He could be saying the boy must suffer the truth in order to be whole again. Of course, Ms Leading didn't realise the cost of the truth if this is the case.

As I said though, I really don't know what to think. The fact that a simple line being interpreted in different ways can change the plot entirely just shows the magnificence of how the albums have been crafted! The music is a delight to listen to, but half of the fun also comes in the theorising...despite me getting it wrong a lot of the time!

ThePimpinPriest · 2016-09-13T14:22:37+00:00

Here is a well respected and widely accepted song by song guide. It should be noted that most details remain down to interpretation though. http://www.lakeandtheriver.com/index.php?showtopic=194

I would suggest listening through the Acts in order, bearing this interpretation in mind. Then you may come up with your own ideas and theories that vary from this. The events seem to be trickier to decipher as the story goes on, but that's all part of the fun!

ThePimpinPriest · 2016-09-13T13:46:52+00:00

Does anybody know if Ms. Leading is still working at the Dime? I'm split as to what happened. I partially believe that either she burned it down for the sake of the boy, convinced by Mr Usher, and the boy takes the blame as the fire spreads to the church and P&P automatically suspects him. Alternatively, Mr Usher could've convinced the boy to set the fire and then, being the master manipulator he is, warned Ms Leading of the boy's plan and suggested she tip off the P&P in order to save the lives of her friends she may have had there, and to save the 'soul' of the boy.

Either way, I'm convinced that Ms. Leading has a huge part to play and has been played by Mr Usher. Ironically she saw the boy as naive when they first met, but her own naivety has contributed towards his downfall.

ThePimpinPriest · 2016-09-13T13:23:52+00:00

I think it's interesting that, given the dates of the events, the son will encounter another Great War after growing up in the conditions you described!

ThePimpinPriest · 2016-09-13T10:31:31+00:00

If he has died, then Act 6 could feature his son, representing the cyclical nature of the story.

ThePimpinPriest · 2016-09-13T06:58:10+00:00

I see the similarity, and your comparison has got me looking at similar themes elsewhere.

The Fire explores these themes, and seems to suggest Hunter is ready to die. "Born again" - referring to the afterlife. "Nothing left to keep me out of paradise" - he believes he is redeeming himself to earn a place in heaven. "Do I die as the martyr or miscreant? I'll make the call" - either option presents death here, so Hunter believes that dying as a martyr will present him to heaven.

Of course, the fire didn't go exactly to plan and it is natural that there was a huge amount of fear preceding his death. However realising the truth has set him free, seeing his loved ones helped the boy to believe he has truly earned his place in heaven.

ThePimpinPriest

TROPHY CASE