Down In The Willow Garden
Tragic Ballad Unveiled: Love, Betrayal, and the Willow Garden
Lyrics
Down in the Willow garden
Describes the setting, a location in a willow garden.
Where me and my love did meet
Refers to the place where the singer and their lover had a meeting.
As we sat a-courtin'
Implies spending time together, possibly in a romantic context.
My love fell off to sleep
Indicates that the lover fell asleep.
I had a bottle of Burgundy wine
The singer had a bottle of wine but didn't inform their lover about it.
My love she did not know
The lover was unaware of the presence of wine.
So I poisoned that dear little girl
Implies that the singer poisoned their lover.
On the banks below
The lover was poisoned near the banks of a river.
I drew a sabre through her
The singer inflicted a severe wound, possibly with a sabre.
It was a bloody knife
Describes the weapon used and the act of causing severe injury.
I threw her in the river
The singer disposed of the lover's body in the river.
Which was a dreadful sign
Highlights the seriousness of the act.
My father often told me
Suggests influence or pressure from the singer's father.
That money would set me free
Implies that money could absolve the singer of consequences.
If I would murder that dear little girl
Reiterates the motivation for the murder as directed by the father.
Whose name was Rose Connelly
Names the victim, Rose Connelly.
My father sits at his cabin door
Describes the father's sorrowful state.
Wiping his tear-dimmed eyes
Expresses the father's sadness through tears.
For his only son soon shall walk
Foretells the son's impending execution.
To yonder scaffold high
Refers to the gallows where the execution will take place.
My race is run, beneath the sun
Acceptance of the imminent fate.
The scaffold now waits for me
Preparation for the execution.
For I did murder that dear little girl
Confession of the murder and the victim's name.
Whose name was Rose Connelly
Reiterates the victim's identity.
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