Lyrics
I drew my ship into the harbor
The speaker brings their ship into the harbor.
I drew it up where my true love lay
The ship is drawn near where the speaker's true love is located.
I drew it close up to her window
The ship is brought close to the window of the loved one.
To listen to what my love did say
The speaker intends to eavesdrop on what their love has to say.
"Who's there that knocks loud at my window?
The loved one questions who is knocking loudly at the window.
Who's there that knocks and dare come in?"
The loved one asks again and challenges the visitor to enter.
"It is the one who loves you dearly
The visitor identifies as someone who loves the person inside deeply.
And rise, dear, and let him in"
The loved one is urged to rise and let the visitor in.
And slowly, slowly got she up
The loved one slowly gets up.
Slowly, slowly came she down
The loved one descends slowly to meet the visitor.
But before her door unlocked
Before unlocking the door, the visitor has already left.
Her true love had both come and gone
The true love has arrived and departed before the door is opened.
He's brisk and bold, he's far away
The speaker describes their true love as brisk, bold, and far away.
Far beyond yon rangin' main
The true love is located beyond a distant and extensive ocean.
Where fishes dancin' and
Imagery of fishes dancing and bright eyes glancing, suggesting a lively and vibrant environment.
Bright eyes glancin'
The speaker implies that the true love has forgotten their purpose or goal.
Have made him quite forget his aim
Continuation of the description of the distant and captivating place where the true love is.
Comment