Maggie
Maggie's Midnight Sky: A Tale of Love and Departure
Lyrics
Yonder stands little Maggie
Introducing a character named Maggie.
With a dram glass in her hands
Describing Maggie holding a drinking glass.
She's drinking away her troubles
Maggie is trying to cope with her problems through drinking.
And courting some other man
Suggesting Maggie is involved with another man romantically.
How can I ever stand it
The narrator expresses difficulty seeing Maggie with someone else.
For to see them pretty blue eyes
Highlighting Maggie's attractive blue eyes.
Sparkling at another
Expressing pain seeing Maggie's eyes sparkling for another person.
Like the stars in the midnight sky
Comparing Maggie's eyes to stars in the midnight sky.
Like the stars in the midnight sky?
Repeating the metaphor of Maggie's eyes being like stars.
I'm going away, little Maggie
The narrator is leaving, suggesting a separation from Maggie.
Got my suitcase in my hand
Indicating the narrator is prepared to depart with luggage.
Will you go with me, little Maggie?
Asking if Maggie will accompany the narrator on the journey.
I'm bound for some foreign distant land
The narrator is heading to a distant foreign land.
Last time a saw little Maggie
Recalling the last encounter with Maggie by the sea.
She was sitting on the banks of the sea
Describing Maggie with a firearm and a banjo on the beach.
With a forty-four around her
Suggesting Maggie has a tough or dangerous demeanor.
And a banjo on her knee
Highlighting Maggie's musical inclination with a banjo.
Go away, go away, little Maggie
Encouraging Maggie to go away and make the best of her life.
Go and do the best you can
The narrator will find another woman after Maggie leaves.
I'll get me another woman
Expressing a willingness to find a new partner.
You can get you another man
Suggesting Maggie can find another man for herself.
Oh, yonder stands little Maggie
Reintroducing Maggie in a similar context as the beginning.
With a dram glass in her hands
Repeating Maggie's action of holding a drinking glass.
She's drinking away her troubles
Restating Maggie's attempt to drown her sorrows.
And courting some other man
Reiterating Maggie's involvement with another man.
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