

Now, though I die,
Magpie, this I bequeath
Joanna Newsom, “Go Long” (Have One On Me, 2010)

Image Description
Five golden coins sit on a dark red background. At the center of each coin there is a gold tooth, marked with a cross in a circle. A magpie with a black body, blue wings, and a long pointed beak flies over the coins.
Interpretation
The Five of Coins signifies violent theft. The magpie has a reputation for pilfering shiny objects, and the gold teeth stolen from the jaws of dead women are a reminder of how far the man addressed in “Go Long” will go to satisfy his greed. Most generally, it means ruthlessness and inhumanity in the pursuit of wealth. From the imagery of the song, it is also specifically tied to misogyny, and the legacy of violence against women upon which so many men have built their fortunes and success.