Down in the Willow Garden
Tragic Ballad Unveiled: Down in the Willow Garden's Dark Tale
Lyrics
Down in the Willow garden
Setting the scene in the Willow garden.
Where me and my love did meet
Describing a meeting place for the speaker and their love.
As we sat a-courtin'
Reflecting on a romantic moment, possibly courtship.
My love fell off to sleep
The speaker's love falls asleep.
I had a bottle of Burgundy wine
Indicating the presence of Burgundy wine.
My love she did not know
The speaker's love is unaware of the wine.
So I poisoned that dear little girl
Revealing a dark twist as the speaker poisons their love.
On the banks below
Setting the location of the poisoning on the banks.
I drew a sabre through her
Describing a violent act, drawing a sabre through the love.
It was a bloody knife
Emphasizing the brutality with a bloody knife.
I threw her in the river
Disposing of the body by throwing it in the river.
Which was a dreadful sign
Highlighting the gravity of the action.
My father often told me
Recalling advice from the father about money and freedom.
That money would set me free
Suggesting a motive for the murder.
If I would murder that dear little girl
Connecting the murder to the named victim, Rose Connolly.
Whose name was Rose Connolly
Identifying the victim and emphasizing her significance.
My father sits at his cabin door
Depicting the father at home, saddened by the son's actions.
Wiping his tear-dimmed eyes
Describing the father's emotional state, wiping tears.
For his only son soon shall walk
Foretelling the son's impending execution on a scaffold.
To yonder scaffold high
Highlighting the gravity of the son's fate.
My race is run, beneath the sun
Expressing resignation as the speaker acknowledges the end of their life journey.
The scaffold now waits for me
Describing the scaffold awaiting the speaker.
For I did murder that dear little girl
Admitting to the murder of Rose Connolly.
Whose name was Rose Connelly
Reiterating the victim's name and the gravity of the crime.
Comment