Ever since hearing a song, some years ago, I have wondered about the last line of the lyrics. On the cassette tape, “A Rogues Gallery of Songs for 12-String” (guitar) by Gordon Bok, 1983, Bok sings the song “Blackbird,” (not the same one sung by The Beatles. The last verse of the song says:
“I’m gonna sleep in a lonely bed / with white and whiter linen spread / with a cold gray stone at my foot and head / and pennies on my eyes.”
For years I have sought an explanation for the words, “pennies on my eyes.” I wonder if the words reveal a practice that is steeped in some folk tradition. I’d love to know. If you happen to have that answer, please write to me at: pat at quiltersmuse dot com. Thanks!
Pat
Update: Well, an answer has already been sent by Arlene McLeish. Thank you, Arlene! She states:
Hello Pat,
In answer to your question, my understanding is that this is a tradition dating back to the Ancient Greeks. It was believed that once they were dead, they would need to pay Charon, the boatman, to row them across the river Styx (which divides the real world from the underworld in Greek mythology). If they couldn’t pay the passage then they wouldn’t be able to cross over into the underworld and would remain in a sort of suspended animation…so their nearest and dearest would provide them with sufficient funds by placing the pennies on the eyes.
However, I would also hazard a guess that it’s also a useful way of getting the eyes to shut once the person has died.
Arlene
