Interesting from a geometric point of view.
Curious Song
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After watching the Kingston trio perform the song on YouTube , the lyrics make more sense. And it's humorously done, perhaps slightly over the top but still it made me laugh.
I'm not sure though, if the hatchet was used in the demise of the true love or only contemplated as a possible solution. And I completed missed the meaning of the trifangular piece of cloth . The video made the meaning crystal clear.
The song is a clever use of shapes to tell an old story. Did you attend a hootenanny last night or what?
It IS a clever song from the perspective of a homicidally-inclined, jilted lover. And the style of singing is somewhat that of an old English balladeer. I have tons of old record albums that I inherited. I came across a Kingston Trio album that looked interesting. As a fan of Folk music, I played the album and found this song particularly unusual. I didn't a minimal of research (it's mentioned in several books too. One talks about it for a page or so as an example of using inanimate object to propel a story line. Another notes that it is a good example of an author mentioning things without actually naming them - such as a triangular piece of cloth for a diaper or wooden box for a coffin).
I would say the hatchet is definitely the murder weapon since she seems to realize a need to hide it.
The famous lyricist (e.g. "Fiddler on the Roof"), Sheldon Harnick, wrote a song early in his career, as S. M. Harnick, entitled, "The Ballad of The Shape of Things." It was recorded by the early folk music group, the Kingston Trio in 1962 amd by jazz singer, Blossom Dearie in 1966.
Completely round is the perfect pearl the oyster manufactures.
Completely round is the steering wheel that leads to compound fractures.
Completely round is the golden fruit that hangs from the orange tree.
Yes the circle shape is quite renowned,
But sad to say it can be found
In the lowdown, dirty run-around
That my true love gave to me
That my true love gave to me
Completely square is the velvet box he said my ring would be in.
Completely square is the envelope he said good-bye to me in.
Completely square is the handkerchief I flourish constantly
As it dries my eyes of the tears I've shed,
And blow my nose which turns bright red
For a perfect square is my true love's head,
He will not marry me
No, hHe will not marry me
Rectangular is the hotel door my true love tried to sneak through.
Rectangular is the transom over which I had to peek through.
Rectangular is the hotel room I entered angrily, and
Rectangular is the wooden box
Where lies my love 'neath the golden phlox.
They say he died of the chicken pox
In part I must agree -
One chick too many had he.
Triangular is the piece of pie I eat to ease my sorrow.
Triangular is the hatchet blade I plan to hide tomorrow.
Triangular the relationship which now has ceased to be
And triangular is the garment thin
That fastens on with a safety pin
To a prize I had no wish to win.
It's a lasting memory
That my true love gave to me.