Green Grows the Holly
Eternal Hope in Nature's Song: Green Grows the Holly by Bones in the Walls
Lyrics
Green grows the holly
Expresses the enduring nature of holly, often associated with life and vitality.
And so does the ivy
Highlights the growth of ivy, another symbol of resilience, alongside the holly.
Though the winter winds blow never so high
Suggests that despite challenging times (winter winds), life continues to flourish.
Green grows the holly
Reiteration of the persistent growth of holly amid adversity.
Gay are the flowers
Describes the joyfulness of flowers, contrasting with the harshness of winter.
Hedgerows and the plough hands
Refers to the lively and hardworking aspects of nature, symbolized by hedgerows and plough hands.
The days grow long, long in the sun
Emphasizes the lengthening of days in the sun, a positive aspect of seasonal change.
So fall the showers
Mentions the occurrence of rain showers, contributing to the growth and abundance of nature.
Full gold the harvest
Celebrates a bountiful harvest represented by the abundance of gold, a metaphor for prosperity.
And grain for your labor
Links the reward of grain to labor and underscores the divine aspect of work for sustenance.
With God must work for daily bread
Conveys the idea that relying on God is essential for obtaining daily bread and avoiding starvation.
Or else man will starve
Reiterates the peril of starvation if work is not done, emphasizing the importance of effort.
Fast fall the shed leaves
Portrays the swift descent of shed leaves during fall, symbolizing the passing of time.
Russet and yellow
Describes the colors of shed leaves, indicating the beauty in the changing seasons.
But resting buds are smug and safe
Contrasts the vulnerability of shed leaves with the safety of resting buds, suggesting renewal.
Where swung the dead leaves
Recalls the past, where dead leaves once swung, symbolizing the inevitability of change.
Green grows the holly
Reaffirms the continuous growth of holly, connecting it to vitality and enduring life.
And so does the ivy
Reiterates the growth of ivy, emphasizing the persistence of life and nature.
The God of life can never die
States a profound truth that the God of life is eternal and cannot die.
And hope says the holly
Associates hope with holly, suggesting that hope endures despite challenges.
Comment