Grace
Heartbreaking Tale of Love and Sacrifice in 'Grace' by Dan McCabe
Lyrics
As we gather in the chapel here in old Kilmainham Jail
Reflecting on gathering in the chapel at Kilmainham Jail, setting the scene.
I think about these last few weeks, oh will they say we've failed
Contemplating the perception of failure in recent weeks.
From our school days they have told us we must yearn for liberty
Recalling the societal emphasis on yearning for liberty since school days.
Yet all I want in this dark place is to have you here with me
Expressing a desire for the presence of a loved one in a dark place.
Oh Grace, just hold me in your arms and let this moment linger
Pleading for emotional closeness with Grace and savoring the moment.
They'll take me out at dawn and I will die
Anticipating execution at dawn and the inevitability of death.
With all my love I place this wedding ring upon your finger
Symbolic act of love, placing a wedding ring on Grace's finger.
There won't be time to share our love, so we must say goodbye
Recognizing the lack of time to share love, bidding farewell.
Now I know it's hard for you my love to ever understand
Acknowledging the difficulty for Grace to comprehend love for country and comrades.
The love I bare for these brave men, my love for this dear land
Expressing deep affection for fellow revolutionaries and the land.
But when Pádraic called me to his side down in the GPO
Recalling the call to duty from Pádraic in the GPO.
I had to leave my own sick bed, to him I had to go
Highlighting sacrifice, leaving a sick bed to answer the call.
Oh Grace, just hold me in your arms and let this moment linger
Reiterating the plea for closeness with Grace in the face of impending death.
They'll take me out at dawn and I will die
Reiterating the anticipation of execution at dawn.
With all my love I'll place this wedding ring upon your finger
Continuing the symbolic act of placing a wedding ring on Grace's finger.
There won't be time to share our love, for we must say goodbye
Reiterating the acknowledgment of limited time for love-sharing, saying goodbye.
Now as the dawn is breaking, my heart is breaking too
Connecting the breaking dawn with a breaking heart.
On this May morn' as I walk out, my thoughts will be of you
Expressing thoughts of a loved one while walking out on a May morning.
So I'll write some words upon the wall so everyone will know
Promising to leave words on the wall to declare love despite impending death.
I loved so much all I could see was blood upon the rose
Describing a distorted perspective, seeing only "blood upon the rose" due to love.
Oh Grace, just hold me in your arms and let this moment linger
Repeating the plea for closeness with Grace as dawn approaches.
They'll take me out at dawn and I will die
Reiterating the anticipation of execution at dawn.
With all my love I'll place this wedding ring upon your finger
Continuing the symbolic act of placing a wedding ring on Grace's finger.
There won't be time to share our love, for we must say goodbye
Reiterating the acknowledgment of limited time for love-sharing, saying goodbye.
Oh Grace, just hold me in your arms and let this moment linger
Repeating the plea for closeness with Grace as dawn approaches.
They'll take me out at dawn and I will die
Reiterating the anticipation of execution at dawn.
With all my love I'll place this wedding ring upon your finger
Continuing the symbolic act of placing a wedding ring on Grace's finger.
There won't be time to share our love, for we must say goodbye
Reiterating the acknowledgment of limited time for love-sharing, saying goodbye.
There won't be time to share our love, so we must say goodbye
Final acknowledgment of the lack of time to share love, bidding a final farewell.
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