One that I struggled with when I first heard it (at age 19 or so) was 'between the
foreceps and the stone', meaning from birth to death. Seems obvious now, but when all
you're fed is a diet of southern rock & top 40 like I was at the time, you don't
concern yourself too much with cryptic lyrics, or else you try and make sense of
"bustle in the hedgerow" and "sprinkling for the May Queen" and drop it altogether!
One of the strengths of Joni's writing (and the others I admire) is their avoidance of
cliche. Thank heavens for Kratzman's red pen! ;~)
Bob
NP: STILL Joan Armatrading, "Tall In The Saddle", Rotterdam 5/7/83
