Game Of Thrones: What Is Podrick's Song (And What Does It Mean)?
Pod's musical number has links to the show's biggest prophecy.
Warning: contains spoilers from Game of Thrones Season 8 Episode 2.
Music is deeply embedded in the fabric of Game of Thrones, whether it's in the many cameos from various bands and artists or, more importantly, the ballads and folk tunes we hear from the singers of the Seven Kingdoms.
This week's episode, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, introduces another new song to the show, sung, somewhat surprisingly, by Podrick Payne (and performed by Florence & The Machine over the end credits). It's a beautiful ballad, a song of a woman named Jenny, but it's also one rooted in the books, and with ties to Game of Thrones' biggest prophecy.
The song, which is being called Jenny of Oldstones by the TV series - it's simply Jenny's song in the books - crops up a couple of times in the source material, although we never get to read all the lyrics. The show gives us the full version:
"High in the halls of the Kings who were gone / Jenny would dance with her ghosts / The ones she had lost and the ones she had found / And the ones who had loved her the most / The ones who'd been gone for so very long / She couldn't remember their names / They spun her around on the damp old stones / Spun away all her sorrow and pain / And she never wanted to leave / Never wanted to leave."
It's a gorgeous, mournful piece of music, but what does it really mean? The titular Jenny of Oldstones was a lowborn woman, described as being "strange, lovely, and mysterious", and Prince Duncan Targaryen, son of King Aegon V and heir to the Iron Throne, fell in love with her. Despite his name, his claim, and the fact he was already betrothed to a Baratheon woman, he chose to marry Jenny instead, giving up his right to the Throne.
While Duncan's decision caused great strife both for his family and others in the Seven Kingdoms, Jenny was eventually accepted at court, with the couple becoming a favourite subject of singers - hence the enduring popularity of Jenny's song. The ballad plays as a lament to those she had lost, which most likely refers to the Tragedy at Summerhall. Still an event shrouded in mystery, this was where a fire broke out at the Targaryen's pleasure castle, killing Aegon V, Ser Duncan the Tall, and Prince Duncan as well. Just as important as those who died, however, was who survived: Princess Rhaella, Rhaegar, who was born amidst the flames, and a woods witch who had been close friends with Jenny.
The woods witch in question had went with Jenny to court, and this is where it gets particularly crucial: it was this very woods witch who made the prophecy that The Prince That Was Promised would come from the line of Aerys and Rhaella. It was this prophecy, at least in part, that led to King Jaehaerys II - who only ascended to the throne because of Duncan's abdication - marrying his children, Aerys and Rhaella.
The woods witch is believed to be the same witch as the Ghost of High Heart, a character Arya and the Brotherhood Without Banners visit in the books, where she asks to hear Jenny's song as payment for making various prophecies. That didn't make it into the show, but now the woods witch and Jenny's song have, and at a crucial time.
It's theorised that Rhaegar himself wrote Jenny's song, as he sang a song at the Tourney of Harrenhal that made Lyanna Stark weep. Having it appear in this episode adds further credence to that notion. Rhaegar himself was obsessed with the prophecy of The Prince That Was Promised, believing it to be either himself or one of his children.
So there, in this song, we have a lament to love that was forbidden but flourished anyway. A song that links to Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark, and to the prophesied saviour of the Seven Kingdoms. All in the scene right before Jon reveals to Daenerys who he really is.
(As a brief aside: it is wonderful to have this song in an episode called A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which is the title of the Dunk & Egg tales, and where we see Brienne anointed a titular character like her ancestor, Duncan the Tall, while also hearing a song about his namesake.
One reading might suggest that it's foreshadowing Jon's ultimate decision: that he, like Prince Duncan - and indeed, his brother/cousin Robb - will choose love over his claim to the Iron Throne (assuming he's ok with incest, which isn't being mentioned yet). However, it's the connection to Rhaegar, Lyanna, and TPTWP which feels more telling right now. Jon is widely believed to be that figure, and the show might well be telling us as much here.
And if nothing else, maybe THIS is how Pod pleased those whores.