III: Ikhnaton and Itsacon and Their Band of Merry Men
The third section's title refers to an ancient Egyptian pharaoh that dismissed traditional polytheistic religion in favor of one centered around a supreme sun god. Connecting him with "It's-a-con" (the GESM) makes sense, as figures as early as Freud have theorized that there is a connection between the religion Ikhnaton failed to establish and monotheistic religions that would survive the ages (beginning with Judaism). The scientific practice of archaeology is warped in the hands of the GESM, as is the monotheistic practice of many modern religions. The GESM has taken the pharaoh's place, justifying his rule through alternative facts and the contradictory mandate of heaven (as if to cover all his bases). The crowd exits the cave and enters the battlefield to expand his empire.
The title's allusion to the legend of Robin Hood alongside its references to ancient and modern figures led me to inhabit the battle with warriors from all periods and places, building on the fluid temporality already established. The dominance of medieval knights is an indirect reference to the nostalgic "Time Table," another song off Foxtrot, but also harkens to the dark ways in which religion is skewered into holy war (e.g. the Crusades). The GESM leads his followers to battle against those who haven't fallen under his sway, and in the heat of the fight we lose sight of the POV.
As the GESM leads his troops to wage holy war, the line that gave me the most trouble was the reference to a "Prayer Capsule." Although most likely referring to a pill of some kind (another ingestible form of the GESM's paradoxically scientific religion), I found a narratively rich meaning in the anachronistic inclusion of King Arthur from Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975). The humor present in Gabriel's writing reminds me of Python's comedy, and I imagine he was a fan of their Flying Circus or at least was aware of it as he worked on lyrics for this song (especially Willow Farm). So with King Arthur's Holy Hand Grenade as my idea of a Prayer Capsule, I make the transition from the lyrics to the section's extended instrumental.
During the instrumental, we find the POV in the midst of the battle armed but noticeably out of place. As an attempt at making their journey more of a partnership than a hero/damsel scenario, I give the female a moment to show her courage when faced against an adversary. Equality is a fundamental cornerstone of a healthy relationship, and the physical endurance the POV have throughout the song is directly linked to their spiritual strength. I also thought it was funny to have her knock out a knight in full armor with just one punch, before the two of them make themselves scarce as reinforcements arrive. They survive the ordeal of the battle, and take their chance to escape the GESM's grasp.
After the fight, the GESM and his army celebrate their victory, with merriment in spite of heavy casualties. It's not clear what reward has been won from the battle, and this lingering sense of futility seeps into the next section.
