Broken Bonds: The Secrets of Rhaegar’s Song

The unique spiritual bond between a mother and her sons, and the psychic damage to both when that bond is severed.

This is the central theme/motif of Rhaegar’s prophecy, perhaps of the series itself.

After all, what are the Others but a supernatural army of abandoned sons? Maybe they just have serious attachment issues.

In addition to establishing the above point, I believe I can strongly argue the following:

Rhaegar’s song (“Jenny’s song”) has a subtext that only women can perceive, concerning the loss of children–perhaps sons in particular.

The known line of Jenny’s song is actually a refrain, appearing multiple times.

This allows for some interesting speculations about the origins of certain characters.

Sansa is uniquely suited for the task of invoking prophecy against the Others if necessary.

Mance’s Inspiration: A Wolf Takes Flight

“I only sing the songs that better men have made.”
^{MANCE RAYDER — JON I, A STORM OF SWORDS}

So I think I made a compelling case for Jenny’s song actually being the prophetic ‘song of ice and fire’.

However that was more of building block than a capstone in my exploration of these ideas. This essay, the spiritual successor to that one, articulates the following:

There are many singers in contemporary Westeros that know Jenny’s song.

A close examination of these singers and their manifestations of the song gives us a fuller picture of the song’s nature, themes and content.

A number of careful observations seemingly allow the inference of a second verse from the song.

This possible verse suggests something profound was planned at Winterfell.

Something involving Mance.

Composer of Prophecy: Rhaegar’s Song of Love and Doom

“I only sing the songs that better men have made.”
^{MANCE RAYDER — JON I, A STORM OF SWORDS}

Rhaegar had a unique knowledge of the prophecy concerning the promised prince.

He kept this knowledge in a secret place…

…somewhere in plain sight, within reach of anyone…

…and yet safe from harm or destruction.

He put the prophecy in a song.

Jenny’s song.