Lyrics
Oh, where is little Maggie
Expressing a search or longing for someone named Little Maggie.
Over yonder she stands
Little Maggie is standing at a distance ("yonder").
Rifle on her shoulder
Describing Maggie with a rifle on her shoulder and a six-shooter in her hand, suggesting a tough or guarded demeanor.
Six-shooter in her hand
Highlighting Maggie's readiness for defense with weapons.
How can I ever stand it
The speaker is expressing difficulty in enduring something.
Just to see them two blue eyes
Describing the intensity and allure of Maggie's blue eyes.
Shinin' like some diamonds
Comparing Maggie's eyes to shining diamonds in the sky, emphasizing their brightness and beauty.
Like some diamonds in the sky
Reinforcing the comparison of Maggie's eyes to diamonds, highlighting their preciousness.
Rather be in some lonely hollow
Expressing a preference for being in a desolate place where the sun doesn't shine.
Where the sun don't ever shine
Continuing the preference for solitude and darkness.
Than to see you be another man's darling
Expressing reluctance to see Maggie with another man.
And to know that you'll never be mine
Acknowledging the painful reality that Maggie will never be the speaker's.
Well, it's march me away to the station
Being led or forced to a station, possibly symbolizing a departure or separation.
With my suitcase in my hand
The speaker has a suitcase, reinforcing the idea of leaving or traveling.
Yes, march me away to the station
Repeating the theme of being marched away to a station, emphasizing the inevitability of departure.
I'm off to some far-distant land
Expressing the destination as a far-distant land.
Sometimes I have a nickel
Highlighting the variability of the speaker's financial situation with nickels, dimes, and dollars.
And sometimes I have a dime
Continuing to describe the fluctuating financial state.
Sometimes I have ten dollars
Emphasizing the speaker's willingness to spend money on Maggie's wine.
Just to pay for little Maggie's wine
Connecting the money spent to support Maggie's indulgence.
Pretty flowers are made for blooming
Stating that beautiful flowers are meant to bloom.
Pretty stars are made to shine
Asserting that stars are meant to shine, drawing parallels to Maggie's inherent qualities.
Pretty girls are made for boy's love
Affirming that pretty girls are made for boys' love, suggesting a romantic connection with Little Maggie.
Little Maggie was made for mine
Declaring that Little Maggie was specifically made for the speaker's love.
Well, yonder stands little Maggie
Reiterating the presence of Little Maggie, now holding a dram glass.
With a dram glass in her hand
Describing Maggie's action of drinking and perhaps coping with troubles.
She's a-drinkin' down her troubles
Highlighting Maggie's engagement in drinking while courting another man.
Over courtin' some other man
Emphasizing the potential emotional pain caused by Maggie's involvement with someone else.
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