Song Meaning
This lyric paints a vivid, almost alchemical transformation of death into something enduring and beautiful. The initial image of a father lying "full fathom five" beneath the waves immediately establishes a scene of profound loss and watery depths. Yet, the tone quickly shifts from mournful to wondrous as the remains are described not as decaying, but as becoming part of the ocean's treasure. The bones turn to coral, and the eyes to pearls, suggesting a complete metamorphosis.
The central tension lies in this radical redefinition of death. It's not an end, but a profound "sea-change" into "something rich and strange." This isn't about forgetting or moving on in a typical sense; it's about a literal, physical alteration into new forms that are inherently valuable and otherworldly. The lyrics propose that even the most final of states can be imbued with a new, unexpected richness.
The most striking craft element is the juxtaposition of the grim reality of death with the exquisite imagery of marine wealth. The repeated "ding-dong" bell, initially a funeral sound, becomes part of this transformation, perhaps signaling the transition itself rather than mourning. The finality of "Nothing of him that doth fade" is powerfully countered by the ongoing, active process of becoming "rich and strange."
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