An Odd Saying

[Scoot]

"I painted all your pigeons red"

Does anyone in the playground have any idea what this means?

Google is giving me nothing, and I know nothing of any cultures that would paint birds red for any reason. :smallconfused:

The reason I need to know is that I'm using a song that contains this phrase for a history project, and I need to use the lyrics in a powerpoint. And no, my teacher wouldn't know, we picked the songs out ourselves. (The rest of the song is perfect, I can ommit the phrase if I must).

The song is Replica (http://www.darklyrics.com/lyrics/sonataarctica/ecliptica.html#4) by Sonata Arctica, a Finnish band.

[Bothi]

some people used to paint pideons/messanger birds as code in war, i dont know exactly what it stood for

[Scoot]

some people used to paint pideons/messanger birds as code in war, i dont know exactly what it stood for

It's worth looking into. Thanks.

[mucat]

After a minute or two of googling:

The band has an official website here (http://www.sonataarctica.info/site07/).

The website has a discussion forum for fans, here (http://www.sonataarctica.info/phpBB2/viewforum.php?r=1&f=1).

Use the forum's search function (search term = "pigeons"), and you get a thread on "phrases lacking in sense" where they discuss your exact question. Here it is (http://www.sonataarctica.info/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1732&highlight=pigeons).

The consensus of the fans is that white pigeons symbolize peace. (Remember, a pigeon is a type of dove.) Red represents blood. So the narrator, who is a soldier returning from a war he no longer believes in, thinks he has helped replaced peace with bloodshed. (Hence the next line, "I wish I'd stayed home instead.")

[Scoot]

After a minute or two of googling:

The band has an official website here (http://www.sonataarctica.info/site07/).

The website has a discussion forum for fans, here (http://www.sonataarctica.info/phpBB2/viewforum.php?r=1&f=1).

Use the forum's search function (search term = "pigeons"), and you get a thread on "phrases lacking in sense" where they discuss your exact question. Here it is (http://www.sonataarctica.info/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1732&highlight=pigeons).

The consensus of the fans is that white pigeons symbolize peace. (Remember, a pigeon is a type of dove.) Red represents blood. So the narrator, who is a soldier returning from a war he no longer believes in, thinks he has helped replaced peace with bloodshed. (Hence the next line, "I wish I'd stayed home instead.")

Great! I don't know why I didn't check there first.

Thanks a bunch, that looks good. :smallbiggrin:

[Phase]

I love it when song lyrics can be deciphered like this, but equally valid is that the songwriter is an escaped inmate. Literally paint the pigeons red.

[golentan]

I love it when song lyrics can be deciphered like this, but equally valid is that the songwriter is an escaped inmate. Literally paint the pigeons red.

We're painting the roses red...

It's a curious turn of phrase, I must admit.

[Lady Tialait]

We're painting the roses red...

It's a curious turn of phrase, I must admit.

How do you turn a phrase?

[Serpentine]

You twist its words.

[Icewalker]

.siht ekil tsuj ti od uoy ,esarhp a nrut ot elpmis s'tI

See? Turned.

[rakkoon]

Has there been a silliest person in the Playground competition yet?
I don't think I'd win :smallfrown:

* goes back to painting lions purple *

[Cyrion]

How do you turn a phrase?

Present your holy symbol prominently and command it to begone, foul fiend, and hide from the purifying light of truth and justice in the abyssal darkness of benighted souls.

Or something similar appropriate to your pantheon of choice.

[Ravens_cry]

.siht ekil tsuj ti od uoy ,esarhp a nrut ot elpmis s'tI

See? Turned.
|
Now it's turned 90°.

[PersonMan]

Present your holy symbol prominently and command it to begone, foul fiend, and hide from the purifying light of truth and justice in the abyssal darkness of benighted souls.

Or something similar appropriate to your pantheon of choice.

But how man hit dice does it have? Maybe we can destroy it, or Rebuke it instead.

[MeatShield#236]

But is the phrase an undead? Is there a feat that allows you to turn words?

[742]

no but there is a special domain power.