The WELL: deadsongs.vue.178: Scarlet Begonias

#22: Robin Russell (rrussell8) Mon 6 Apr 09 11:43

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 11:43:00 PDT

I have just started learning to play and sing Scarlet Begonias. The vibe I am getting is not rejection, but there is wistfulness there as well as celebration. Most of all I am reading it as something of a nostalgia trip, travel stories from London. [Read entire topic]

#21: David Gans (tnf) Thu 22 Jan 09 13:46

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 13:46:00 PST

Very nice! [Read entire topic]

#20: Marked from the Day That I was Born (ssol) Sat 17 Jan 09 10:08

Sat, 17 Jan 2009 10:08:00 PST

Nice! [Read entire topic]

#19: Wendy Darling (wendydarling) Sat 17 Jan 09 08:51

Sat, 17 Jan 2009 08:51:00 PST

First, I want to say, that I love you guys, for each and every day that you have breathed knowledge and understanding into my life. You make me smarter, stronger, better, than I ever imagined I could be. And the best part, that wheel just keeps on. So...

Historically in literature (and decor, and apparel) flowers have had a coded meaning. This became extremely popular in the 19th century when many books on 'the Language of Flowers' were printed in mass. (I think, our current version is 'Love is in the Earth') It became a fad for proper ladies (and gentlemen) to acquire knowledge in the 'reading' of flowers. And, I feel, Hunter utilizes this 'language' often (magnolia, willow, red rose [that's in 1 song]).One of my favorites so far is Althea. But I digress, right now we are talking about the girl wearing Scarlet Begonia's. The color red and the begonia are both a symbolic warning, begonia's mean beware, some documentation also includes the meaning 'deformed' which can be read as 'different', I think. Which translates to 'not like other girls'.

And I have to disagree, at least with a small bit of Ryan's interpretation. I cannot believe that this girl is, "a bit foolish or naive". This girls wearing it out there on her sleeve so to speak. And as far as "her slight vanity," that misses the greatest part (as I see it). I believe, that what Hunter is saying, is that the hardest lesion to learn is... This (this whole encounter) is not rejection. This is... Strangers stopped strangers just to shake their hand Everybody's playing in the Heart of Gold Band!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [Read entire topic]

#18: Rebecca E Sch (wendydarling) Fri 16 Jan 09 13:09

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 13:09:00 PST

<scribbled> [Read entire topic]

#17: coal will turn to gray (comet) Fri 9 Jan 09 18:44

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 18:44:00 PST

Sort of the Robert Hunter cut-up method? I like it. [Read entire topic]

#16: Marked from the Day That I was Born (ssol) Fri 9 Jan 09 03:45

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 03:45:00 PST

Oh, so RH might just be shufflin' the cards. How novel ;-) [Read entire topic]

#15: David Dodd (ddodd) Wed 7 Jan 09 13:23

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:23:00 PST

Posted on behalf of Bob Severs:

Hey man, I hope you don't mind me reaching out to you, but after reading and agreeing with the numerous posts from http://arts.ucsc.edu/gdead/agdl/scarlet.html , do you think Robert may have played a simple word switch... 'too cool to open and too pat to bluff'? To me, that would follow suit with his contradictions throughout the song. I don't know, just up late and listening to some old shows. Namaste. -bob [Read entire topic]

#14: Charlie Hatfield (mr-charlie) Thu 22 Jun 06 17:01

Thu, 22 Jun 2006 17:01:00 PDT

I haven't been able to actually find the article that I referenced. However, I have found plenty of other sources. Try this one for more. I didn't remember the rest of the title.

www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4153/is_20010219/ai_n11958862 [Read entire topic]

#13: Charlie Hatfield (mr-charlie) Thu 15 Jun 06 12:22

Thu, 15 Jun 2006 12:22:00 PDT

I find it interesting that Hunter addresses the issue of temperature/climate by saying that theres "not a chill to the winter". By saying so he draws direct attention to the play on words "but a Nip to the air" as being other than having to do with the weather and puts the emphasis on time (headline on a specific date) and place (Grosevenor Square, London). Without speaking to the man one can never be sure however, it seems very likely that Hunter opens Scarlet Begonias by establishing time in addition to the obvious place.

As a personal aside, I always invisioned him talking about Janis Joplin.

"She had rings on her fingers and bells on her shoes, And I knew without askin' she was into the blues Scarlet begonias tucked into her curls I knew right away she was not like other girls-- other girls" [Read entire topic]