Comments: 2

• Alkmyst from FloridaI always thought that St. Stephen was about the Last Crusade, “The Children’s Crusade”. He claimed that he heard God tell him to gather young people to win back the Holy Land in the name of the Pope.
  
  People hated him, as he wore a rose as a symbol of the pope and king gathering children for his crusade. Hence “…the well with a golden bell lowering the bucket down to hell”
  
  Towards the end…” down by the seashore with sides of the foam, been there so long they’ve been calling it home” St. Stephen in his vision was that when they first arrived at the beach that a ship would be awaiting for them to carry them across.
  
  Historically, after a period of time while him and his campaign were waiting, smugglers, heard of their fate offered to fulfill the “prophecy”, but they were sold into slavery instead.
• Gabe from Coastal BcIf you read the biography of Steven Foster you will see that the song is clearly about his last days on earth. Despite being the darling of the south Foster lived his whole life in New York where he died penniless, insane and hated as the Civil War came to a close. The line "Steven prospered in his time..." sounds like "Steven Foster in his prime..." He is seen as the father of the modern royalty system even though he himself never benefited from royalties. What better reason would Robert Hunter have for calling him St. Steven?

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