House of Clocks
Chronicles of Time: Unveiling Lost Love in Al Stewart's Melodic Tapestry
Lyrics
I once had a gilded clock
I once owned an ornate, elaborate clock
Constructed in la Belle Epoque
Made during a period known for its beauty and opulence
The hour hand broke, now it won't turn back
The clock's hour hand is damaged, preventing it from going back or reversing
So long, so long, so long
Expressing a sense of departure or loss, repeated for emphasis
I once had a sundial too
I also had a sundial
But green and wild my garden grew
My garden grew unchecked and untamed
The undergrowth obscured the view
The overgrowth obscured the sundial's visibility
So long, so long, so long
Repeated expression of farewell or loss
Not a word could make her stay
No words or actions could persuade her to stay
The East wind blows the sun away
A metaphorical description of a situation turning cold or bleak
Oh I lost her on St. Swithin's day
Refers to losing someone significant on St. Swithin's day, prompting a questioning of why it happened
Oh why?
An expression of questioning or lament
I grew up in a house of clocks
I was raised in a household full of clocks
And late at night I'd sometimes walk
At night, I'd stroll and listen to the rhythmic sounds made by the clocks
Listening to their rhythmic talk
Enjoying the consistent, repetitive noises made by the clocks
So long, so long, so long
Repeated farewell or sense of departure
Clocks that sand in ringing chimes
Describing clocks that produce sounds through ringing
To take the measure of the times
The clocks help in understanding or measuring time
Clocks that spoke in wordless rhymes,
Clocks communicating through non-verbal means
So long, so long , so long
Reiterated sense of parting or loss
Not a word could make her stay
Reiteration of an inability to influence someone to stay
The wine is split and flows away
Symbolic imagery of spilled wine, signifying loss or waste
I lost her on St. Swithin's day
Repeating the loss experienced on St. Swithin's day, questioning the reason behind it
Oh why?
Expressing lament or questioning about the loss
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