Lyrics
This pretty young maid I seek far and wide
This refers to the narrator searching extensively for a beautiful young woman.
My heartache each morn with her I don't meet
The narrator expresses disappointment at not meeting the young woman each morning, causing heartache.
When I go to the bar, the dance hall or fete
The narrator searches for the young woman in social places like bars, dance halls, or events.
But I'd follow her trail in the dead of the night
Despite challenges, the narrator is determined to follow the young woman's trail even in the dead of night.
Now you're the young man that travels afar
The narrator instructs a young man to find a suitable woman for marriage.
Find me a gem I can have as my wife
The narrator seeks a gem, a metaphor for an exceptional woman, to be his wife.
Never yearn or pine for flocks or for kine
The narrator desires a partner who doesn't long for material possessions like flocks or cattle.
And I'll conjure plan that will charm her life
The narrator promises to devise a plan to bring happiness and charm into the woman's life.
Have her youthful and fair with no worry or care
Desired qualities for the woman include youthfulness, beauty, patience, and wisdom in all matters.
Patient and wise in affairs of all kind
The narrator seeks a partner who is modest and wise, possessing qualities beyond material wealth.
Modest and mild, without too much pride
Desired qualities include modesty and mildness, without excessive pride.
That is my love if she hadn't a dime
Emphasizes that the narrator's love is unconditional, not dependent on the woman's financial status.
Now you're the young man that travels afar
A repetition of the request for the young man to find a suitable woman for marriage.
Find me a gem I can have as my wife
Reiteration of the desire for a gem-like woman as a wife, free from materialistic desires.
Never yearn or pine for flocks or for kine
Repetition of the desire for a partner who doesn't long for material possessions.
And I'll conjure plan that will charm her life
Reaffirmation of the narrator's commitment to bring charm and happiness into the woman's life.
Let no blemish or shame be attached to her name
The narrator wishes for the woman to have an untarnished reputation and be honest and gentle.
Honest in heart and gentle in mien
The desired woman should have a kind heart and a gentle demeanor.
No hatred or vice to be heard in her voice
Emphasizes the absence of hatred or vice in the woman's character, with a cheerful and smiling disposition.
But cheerful and smiling from morning 'til night
Desired qualities include cheerfulness and a smiling demeanor from morning to night.
Now you're the young man that travels afar
A repetition of the request for the young man to find a suitable woman for marriage.
Find me a gem I can have as my wife
Reiteration of the desire for a gem-like woman as a wife, free from materialistic desires.
Never yearn or pine for flocks or for kine
Repetition of the desire for a partner who doesn't long for material possessions.
And I'll conjure plan that will charm her life
Reaffirmation of the narrator's commitment to bring charm and happiness into the woman's life.
And I'll charm her life
The narrator reiterates the commitment to charm and enhance the woman's life, concluding the song.
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