Loving Hannah
Love's Wandering Gaze: Decoding Mary Black's 'Loving Hannah'
Lyrics
I went to church on Sunday
I attended church on Sunday.
My love, she passed me by
The person I love walked past me.
I knew her mind was changing
I sensed a shift in her thoughts or feelings.
By the roving of her eye
I detected this change through her wandering gaze.
By the roving of her eye
Similar to line 4.
By the roving of her eye
-I knew her mind was changing
Reiteration of the perceived change in her thoughts through her wandering gaze.
By the roving of her eye
Similar to line 4.
My love's fair and proper
The person I love is attractive and well-proportioned.
Her waist is neat and small
Describing her slim and small waist.
She is quite good-looking
Emphasizing her physical attractiveness.
And that' s the best of all
Highlighting her good looks as the best quality.
And that' s the best of all
Similar to line 13.
And that' s the best of all
-And she is quite good-looking
Reiteration of her physical attractiveness.
And that' s the best of all
Similar to line 13.
Oh, Hannah, loving Hannah
Addressing Hannah, expressing affection.
Come give to me your hand
Requesting Hannah to give their hand in a symbolic gesture of connection or commitment.
You said that if you're married
Recalling a promise from Hannah that if she marries, the speaker will be chosen.
That i will be the one
Emphasizing the speaker's expectation to be chosen if Hannah marries.
That i will be the one
Similar to line 22.
That i will be the one
-You said that if you're married
Reiteration of the expectation to be chosen by Hannah if she marries.
That i will be the one
Similar to line 25.
I will go down by the river
Planning to go to the river when others are asleep.
When everyone's asleep
Desiring solitude to contemplate loving Hannah.
I'll think of loving Hannah
Intending to think about and remember loving Hannah.
And then sit down and grieve
Anticipating feeling sadness or sorrow.
And then sit down and grieve
Similar to line 31.
And then sit down and grieve
-I'll think of loving Hannah
Recurrence of the intention to remember and feel sadness about loving Hannah.
And then sit down and grieve
Similar to line 34.
I went to church on Sunday
Repetition of attending church and seeing the loved one pass by, indicating a cyclical experience.
My love she passed me by
Similar to line 2.
I knew her mind was changing
Similar to line 3.
By the roving of her eye
Similar to line 4.
By the roving of her eye
-By the roving of her eye
-I knew her mind was changing
Similar to line 7, detecting a change in the loved one's thoughts through her gaze.
By the roving of her eye
Similar to line 4.
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