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Funeral Memory That Sparked The Song
- Natalie Merchant describes attending a large memorial where playing "Waterloo Sunset" made people laugh and weep together.
- That memory and later pandemic losses inspired her desire to celebrate women of her mother's generation.
How Sister Tilly Appeared
- Merchant sat at her piano during lockdown and a chord progression immediately produced the name "Miss Tilly."
- She then decided to make Sister Tilly a composite of many women rather than one specific person.
Character As Generational Stand-In
- Natalie intended Sister Tilly to represent a generation of women who were formative influences.
- She used a composite character to eulogize many women's cultural and activist contributions.