Good observation, Goldin! It's a perfect sequel/part 2 to Dance Me!Goldin wrote:I used to think he's singing "eye of the cam" (surely, without any capitalization).
When I learned it's Camp, my first (and the only) thought was about a concentration camp.
I believe it makes my feeling about this song more explainable. After a few listenings I was struck by the sence that it's the 2nd part of Dance Me to the End of Love.
Seriously, let's think about - Holocaust ("surroundings")... violin (music)...
waiting for her support -
Dance me
Tell me again
(well, as time goes by, no more dancing - ??)
OK, it's just my personal thinking. For me Amen is an Apocalyptic Dance Me.
Scocoh: I also had "eye of the storm" in mind; could be storm or black hole - both would carry the same implications.
I thought everyone knew that it was "cam" in the Everyman's Library/LC Poems & Songs - (the title in the book is also "Amen" -it's on P. 225). I assumed it was either a misprint in one of the transcriptions(which doesn't seem likely), or that Leonard changed it when he made the album.
I think "Camp" (if that's what it is & if the reference is concentration camp) is very powerful here, & it fits well with the previous two lines: ". . .when the filth of the butcher/ is washed in the blood of the lamb", as "butcher", while it could be a reference to any killer/killers of choice, could also be a reference to the Nazis.