Sad Waters
Enchanting Waters of Love: Nick Cave's Poetic Journey
Lyrics
Down the road I look and there runs Mary
Observing Mary as she runs down the road.
Hair of gold and lips like cherries
Describing Mary's physical attributes with golden hair and cherry-like lips.
We go down to the river where the willows weep
Heading to the river where willows cry, setting a scene.
Take a naked root for a lovers seat
Choosing a naked tree root as a seat for lovers.
That rose out of the bitten soil
Referring to a plant emerging from bitten soil, possibly symbolizing growth.
But bound to the ground by creeping ivy coils
Describing the plant's connection to the ground through creeping ivy coils.
Oh Mary you have seduced my soul
Expressing that Mary has captivated the speaker's soul.
Forever a hostage of your child's world
Stating that the speaker feels forever trapped in the world of Mary's childlike innocence.
And then I ran my tin-cup heart along
Describing the speaker running their heart along Mary's metaphorical prison of ribs.
The prison of her ribs
Continuing the imagery of Mary's ribcage as a prison for the speaker's heart.
And then with a toss of her curls
Depicting Mary tossing her curls, a playful action.
That little girl goes wading in
Describing Mary wading into the water, maintaining a childlike innocence.
Rolling her dress up past her knee
Portraying Mary rolling her dress up, hinting at a sense of vulnerability.
Turning these waters into wine
Suggesting Mary's transformative impact, turning ordinary waters into something extraordinary like wine.
Then she platted all the willow vines
Illustrating Mary weaving willow vines, possibly symbolizing creation or artistry.
Mary in the shallows laughing
Depicting Mary laughing in the shallows, possibly representing joy or freedom.
Over where the carp dart
Describing the location where carp dart, adding detail to the river setting.
Spooked by the new shadows that she cast
Noting the shadows Mary casts and the impact on the surroundings.
Across these sad waters and across my heart
Connecting Mary's actions to the speaker's emotional state, across sad waters and the heart.
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