Jenny’s Song – Even Deeper Meanings

Published April 24, 2019 · Updated July 6, 2022

Hello Shat friends,

I feel like someone’s clingy significant other at this point … I think this might be my 6th email in four days…

Anyway, I originally decided not to write in about Jenny’s Song and Jenny of Oldstones because there were so many articles out there talking about it and, surely, someone else likely wrote in about the full meaning of the song. Then I heard your Deep Dive episode and, while you guys did cover the connection with Duncan Targaryen giving up his throne for love, you missed some other crucial connections.

The single line of the song that is original to the books goes: “High in the halls of the kings who are gone, Jenny would dance with her ghosts …” This is a direct reference to the Tragedy at Summerhall, an event mentioned in the books but never in the show. The Tragedy at Summerhall is how Duncan Targaryen died and it remains a mystery to this day. Here’s what is known:

* Summerhall, one of House Targaryen’s palaces, erupted in a storm of flames, leaving it in ruins * This was almost certainly an attempt by King Aegon V to bring back dragons – even as one of the better Targaryen Kings, he was obsessed with this – there were seven dragon eggs, the king’s septon, pyromancers, and wildfire present * The event killed King Aegon V, Duncan Targaryen, and Ser Duncan the Tall, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. * Survivors include: Rhaella Targaryen (Dany’s Mom), Rhaegar Targaryen (Dany’s Brother and Jon’s dad) who was born there, the Archmaester who wrote on the event, and a particular woods witch – that last one is important and we’ll come back to her.

Rhaegar was somewhat obsessed with the Tragedy and would often return to the ruins of Summerhall to play his harp alone – he wouldn’t let Kingsguard come with him. For a time, he believed he was the Prince that was Promised because he was “born of salt and smoke.”

Now that woods witch is another major connection to Jenny’s Song – in fact, she is the reason the song is even in the books. This woods witch and Jenny were very close – Jenny would often bring her to court. The witch predicted in prophesy that the Prince that was Promised would come from the bloodline of Aerys and Rhaella Targaryen (the Aerys who would eventually be known as the Mad King and his wife), which prompted their father to insist that they marry. Rhaegar, Dany, and Jon were all born of this bloodline.

In the books, we meet the witch – called the Ghost of High Heart – through an Arya chapter when Arya travels with the Brotherhood without Banners. They ask her where to find Beric Dondarrion (he was separated from them) and she agrees to help in exchange for a song. The singer asks “The same song as before?” and she replies “Oh, aye. My Jenny’s song. Is there any other?” This is where the song shows up in the book. The singer asks if the witch wants the same song as before because they had exchanged songs for fortune telling in the past. The Ghost’s dreams predicted the death of Balon Greyjoy, the Red Wedding, the Purple Wedding, and she immediately senses Arya’s future connection with Death.

All of this is to say, Jenny’s Song has more than just a connection to Duncan Targaryen’s abdication of the Iron Throne. It has connections to a mysterious, fiery disaster from an attempt to birth dragons, it has a connection to Rhaegar, and it has a connection to the prophecy of the Prince that was Promised.

For additional reading: Jenny of Oldstones, Duncan Targaryen, the Tragedy at Summerhall, and the Ghost of High Heart.

Cheers,

Ken L

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