Oh Coal Black Smith
Eternal Transformation: Love's Metamorphosis in 'Oh Coal Black Smith'
Lyrics
Oh she looked out of the window
Observation of a woman looking out the window.
As white as any milk
Describing the woman's complexion as very fair.
But he looked in the window
A man's contrasting appearance, described as very dark.
As black as any silk
Emphasizing the man's blackness in contrast to the woman.
"Hello hello hello hello
Greeting the coal black smith, possibly a character or archetype.
Hello you coal black smith
-Oh what is your silly song?
Asking about the purpose of the smith's song.
You shall never change my maiden name
Declaring determination to maintain her maiden name.
That I have kept so long
Asserting the preservation of her name over time.
I'd rather die a maid, yes"
Expressing a preference for maintaining virginity even at the cost of death.
But then she said
Continuation of the woman's dialogue.
"And be buried in my grave, yes"
Preference for being buried unmarried.
And then she said
Reiteration of her decision.
"That I'd have such a nasty
Describing the undesirable qualities of the coal black smith.
Husky, dusky, musty, funky
-Coal black smith,
-A maiden will I die"
-Then she became a duck
Narrative shift: Woman transforms into a duck.
A duck all on the stream
Describing the duck's movement on the stream.
And he became a water dog
Transformation of the man into a water dog.
And fetched her back again
The dog retrieves the duck.
Then she became a hare
Woman transforms into a hare.
A hare all on the plain
Describing the hare on the plain.
And he became a greyhound dog
Transformation of the man into a greyhound dog.
And fetched her back again
The dog retrieves the hare again.
Then she became a fly
Woman transforms into a fly.
A fly all in the air
Describing the fly's movement in the air.
And he became a spider
Transformation of the man into a spider.
And fetched her to his lair
The spider captures the fly and takes it to its lair.
And she became a corpse,
Woman transforms into a corpse.
A corpse all in the ground
Describing the placement of the corpse in the ground.
And he became the cold grey clay
Transformation of the man into cold grey clay.
And smothered her all around
Final act of the man smothering the woman in the ground.
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