Lyrics
The rain runs down
The rain is flowing down.
Through maryland town
Refers to a town in Maryland.
The rivers swell and swell
Describes rivers swelling.
And all the lads in maryland throw pennies to the well
Local people throw pennies into a well in Maryland.
And their debts grow higher and higher
Debts are increasing.
And their bets and their theories do grow
Bets and theories are growing.
And they dared young huw to the jew’s garden
Youth named Huw is dared to enter the Jew's garden.
Where the scared nor the sceptics dare go
No one scared or skeptical goes to the Jew's garden.
Then down came the jew’s daughter
Jew's daughter appears.
All dressed in silk so fine
She is finely dressed.
Cried she to huw old pretty to Hugh
She questions Huw about his intentions.
What appointments have made your mind
Asks Huw about his plans or decisions.
She offered him ripe apples
Offers ripe apples to Huw.
Likewise a gay gold diamond ring
Offers a valuable gold diamond ring.
And a lily with colour as red as blood
Offers a lily with red color, symbolizing enticement.
She enticed this little boy in
She lures Huw into something.
She took him by the lily white hand
She takes Huw by the hand and leads him down a hall.
And she led him down the hall
Describes her actions further.
And she took a penknife
She takes a penknife to an undisclosed location.
To where he could not sound
Actions that are hidden or secretive.
And let his lifeblood fall
Huw's lifeblood is spilled, implying harm or danger.
She wrapped him in to his winding sheet
Huw is wrapped in a sheet made of lead.
Woven not of cloth but of lead
Describes the material of the wrapping.
And she held him down the old time well
Huw is placed near an old-time well.
Saying to Hugh he must play with the dead
Hugh is instructed to play with the dead.
Oh help me help me
Hugh cries for help, feeling unwell.
Cried little sick Hugh
Desperate plea for assistance.
And build me a coffin of birch
Hugh requests a birch coffin to be built.
And tell my mother I’m falling to sleep
Hugh informs about falling asleep and desires burial in a church.
And bury me in yonder’s church
Instructions for his burial.
Sing down sing down
A plea to sing down, possibly signifying mourning.
My little sir Hugh
Repetition of Hugh's name in a singing fashion.
Sing down sing down
Repetition of singing down.
And with you your words
Reference to Hugh's words accompanying him.
To my kin you are in
Addressing his kin and the impact of his words.
Sing down down and with you your words
Repetition of singing down and the impact of words.
You are harmed as much as you’ve heard
Reference to harm being as much as heard.
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