As someone mentioned before, mangum introduces this song as being about a family who lived in the 1940's in europe, and he has dreams about one particular member. This family is obviously the franks. After reading anne franks diary I always see this song as being written from the point of view of Peter Wessel, a former lover of anne's before they went into hiding. The two-headed boy I believe is Peter Wessel, and Peter van Dann. "Peter Wessel and Petter Van Dann have grown into one Peter, who is beloved and good, and for whom I long desperately" - Anne Frank.
Since Anne regarded Peter Van Dann as a brother at times, and peter V D And Peter W are the same person, Then I believe the first verse is Peter W talking about Anne's Father. (The only one of the family to survive, and was left with nothing).
The second verse orginally starting with "sister please" (see two-headed boy pt.2 [live at jittery joes]) I believe is peter w singing to Anne. He is speaking on behalf of his two headed companion (peter V D). Explaining That Peter V D did love Anne, although she was sometimes confused about it "how he'd love to find your tounge in his teeth, In a strugle to find secret songs, that you keep wrapped in Boxes so tight sounding only at night as you sleep" Basicly Anne in her diary explains that her inner self is only reveled when she is alone or in her dreams ("sounding only at night as you sleep"), so this is just peter W explaining to anne that peter V D did want to unlock her inner character so he could really love her. (Anne explains in her diary that for peter V D to show any signs of love to her, he must of senced what anne calls her "good side" because nobody could of loved her other side).
The Third verse I believe is Peter W singing to Anne as well. When Anne and Peter W were lovers Anne admits in her diary that she was childish, and after they spent a summer in love Anne explains how peter W had changed, in my view he had grown up and begun to hate Anne's Childish side. Maybe after hearing anne's story he's grown to love her again, this is why this particular verse is the saddest in my eyes. "... and I'll love you for the rest of you're life" abviously Anne is already dead so this is particlary sad. It's almost like a desperate promise, a sudden realisation of love, but it's all far too late.
The fourth verse is interesting. I believe it is Peter W singing to Peter V D "Brother see we are one and the same" this perfectly mirrors a quote from Anne Frank; "Peter Wessel and Peter Van Dann you are one, and the same!". The rest of this verse however is about a friend of jeff mangums, who's brother commited suicied. Like on Holland, 1945. He sings about this person after singing about the franks. However the rest of this verse would also perfectly describe Peter V D demise. according to Anne Franks diary "When the SS abandoned Auschwitz, in Febuary 1945, to escape the advancing russians, they took Peter Vann Dann with them on the winter march to the west; he was never heard from again". these were known as the death marches, and people were forced to march constantly with little supplies, once people became week they were shot, this is likely what happened to peter V D. "And you left with your head filled with flames And you watched as your brains Fell out through your teeth" this explains the sadistic nature of the killing. Again the last part of this verse is desperate because there is no way the two peters could ever meet or get to know each other.
This desperation and hoplessness is stopped by the 5th verse. here Peter W suggest that he (in the form of the two-headed boy) will be reunited with Anne in the afterlife, and death will not get in the way of there love. "and when we break, we'll wait for our miricle God is a place where some holy spectacle lies And when we break, we'll wait for our miracle God is a place you will wait for the rest of your life". The two-headed boy still has a bond because Peter W is still alive and Peter V D is in his thoughts, but when he dies the physical bond will break; "and when we break". However they will become the same again as they will both be in the afterlife (this is the "miricle" that is mentioned), and Anne will be reuinted with both parts of her love. Her love that satisfies her childish side with Peter W, and the love she felt with Peter V D when she was growing more mature and reveling her inner self. This I believe is the "holy spectacle", and the only thing that will make Anne Whole, as she died a very confused character.(remember I believe this is Peter W thoughts shortly after the events of 1945)
The last Verse I believe is Mangum telling the two-headed boy that although Anne was confused "she is all you could need", and the two loves felt between Peter W, and peter V D were both very genuine. The last line really sticks in my mind. "Don't hate her when she gets up to leave" Mangum has stated that he is confused about relgion (when he sings the king of carrot flowers part two live at jittery Joes, for example), so if it all just ends after death, and the two-headed boy is not reunited with Anne, Mangum is telling the two Peters not to hate Anne for this. the word "when" in this last line, makes me think that deep down he believes everything does end, and it gives this remarkable album a terribly sad ending.
I love the way The last two verses contradict each other, summs up mangums confusion about religion, as well as how confused Anne is about life at the time of her death ("can't believe how strange it is to be anything at all")
P.S. This song is very confusing, but this is what I imagine when I listen to it. I'm probably way off.
As someone mentioned before, mangum introduces this song as being about a family who lived in the 1940's in europe, and he has dreams about one particular member. This family is obviously the franks. After reading anne franks diary I always see this song as being written from the point of view of Peter Wessel, a former lover of anne's before they went into hiding. The two-headed boy I believe is Peter Wessel, and Peter van Dann. "Peter Wessel and Petter Van Dann have grown into one Peter, who is beloved and good, and for whom I long desperately" - Anne Frank.
Since Anne regarded Peter Van Dann as a brother at times, and peter V D And Peter W are the same person, Then I believe the first verse is Peter W talking about Anne's Father. (The only one of the family to survive, and was left with nothing).
The second verse orginally starting with "sister please" (see two-headed boy pt.2 [live at jittery joes]) I believe is peter w singing to Anne. He is speaking on behalf of his two headed companion (peter V D). Explaining That Peter V D did love Anne, although she was sometimes confused about it "how he'd love to find your tounge in his teeth, In a strugle to find secret songs, that you keep wrapped in Boxes so tight sounding only at night as you sleep" Basicly Anne in her diary explains that her inner self is only reveled when she is alone or in her dreams ("sounding only at night as you sleep"), so this is just peter W explaining to anne that peter V D did want to unlock her inner character so he could really love her. (Anne explains in her diary that for peter V D to show any signs of love to her, he must of senced what anne calls her "good side" because nobody could of loved her other side).
The Third verse I believe is Peter W singing to Anne as well. When Anne and Peter W were lovers Anne admits in her diary that she was childish, and after they spent a summer in love Anne explains how peter W had changed, in my view he had grown up and begun to hate Anne's Childish side. Maybe after hearing anne's story he's grown to love her again, this is why this particular verse is the saddest in my eyes. "... and I'll love you for the rest of you're life" abviously Anne is already dead so this is particlary sad. It's almost like a desperate promise, a sudden realisation of love, but it's all far too late.
The fourth verse is interesting. I believe it is Peter W singing to Peter V D "Brother see we are one and the same" this perfectly mirrors a quote from Anne Frank; "Peter Wessel and Peter Van Dann you are one, and the same!". The rest of this verse however is about a friend of jeff mangums, who's brother commited suicied. Like on Holland, 1945. He sings about this person after singing about the franks. However the rest of this verse would also perfectly describe Peter V D demise. according to Anne Franks diary "When the SS abandoned Auschwitz, in Febuary 1945, to escape the advancing russians, they took Peter Vann Dann with them on the winter march to the west; he was never heard from again". these were known as the death marches, and people were forced to march constantly with little supplies, once people became week they were shot, this is likely what happened to peter V D. "And you left with your head filled with flames And you watched as your brains Fell out through your teeth" this explains the sadistic nature of the killing. Again the last part of this verse is desperate because there is no way the two peters could ever meet or get to know each other.
This desperation and hoplessness is stopped by the 5th verse. here Peter W suggest that he (in the form of the two-headed boy) will be reunited with Anne in the afterlife, and death will not get in the way of there love. "and when we break, we'll wait for our miricle God is a place where some holy spectacle lies And when we break, we'll wait for our miracle God is a place you will wait for the rest of your life". The two-headed boy still has a bond because Peter W is still alive and Peter V D is in his thoughts, but when he dies the physical bond will break; "and when we break". However they will become the same again as they will both be in the afterlife (this is the "miricle" that is mentioned), and Anne will be reuinted with both parts of her love. Her love that satisfies her childish side with Peter W, and the love she felt with Peter V D when she was growing more mature and reveling her inner self. This I believe is the "holy spectacle", and the only thing that will make Anne Whole, as she died a very confused character.(remember I believe this is Peter W thoughts shortly after the events of 1945)
The last Verse I believe is Mangum telling the two-headed boy that although Anne was confused "she is all you could need", and the two loves felt between Peter W, and peter V D were both very genuine. The last line really sticks in my mind. "Don't hate her when she gets up to leave" Mangum has stated that he is confused about relgion (when he sings the king of carrot flowers part two live at jittery Joes, for example), so if it all just ends after death, and the two-headed boy is not reunited with Anne, Mangum is telling the two Peters not to hate Anne for this. the word "when" in this last line, makes me think that deep down he believes everything does end, and it gives this remarkable album a terribly sad ending.
I love the way The last two verses contradict each other, summs up mangums confusion about religion, as well as how confused Anne is about life at the time of her death ("can't believe how strange it is to be anything at all")
P.S. This song is very confusing, but this is what I imagine when I listen to it. I'm probably way off.