Lyrics
Don't sing love songs, you'll wake my mother
Caution against singing love songs to avoid waking the speaker's mother.
She's sleeping here right by my side
Speaker's mother is sleeping beside them.
In her right hand a silver dagger
The mother holds a silver dagger, symbolizing a warning or prohibition.
She says that I can't be your bride
Explanation of the mother's stance that the speaker cannot be someone's bride.
All men are fools, so says my mother
Mother's generalization about men being fools and prone to love and lies.
They'll tell you again love and lies
Men may express love but may court others, leaving the woman alone.
And then they'll go and court some other
Prediction that men will seek the affection of other women.
Leave you alone to pine inside
The woman will be left alone, pining for the absent lover.
My daddy is a handsome devil
Description of the speaker's father as a charming but deceptive man.
He's got a chain five miles long
Details about the father's chain, possibly representing a history of broken hearts.
On every link a heart does dangle
Each link of the chain has a heart, symbolizing the father's past loves.
Of another maid he's loved and wronged
The father has wronged and loved other maids in the past.
Go court another tender maiden
Advice to seek another maiden's affection for potential marriage.
In hopes that she might be your bride
Expressing hope that another maiden might agree to be the bride.
For I've been warned, so I decided
The speaker has been warned and has decided to remain single.
I'll sleep alone all of my life
Commitment to a life of solitude based on the warnings received.
Don't sing love songs, you'll wake my mother
Reiteration of the caution against singing love songs to avoid disturbing the mother.
She's sleeping here right by my side
Reminder that the mother is sleeping beside the speaker.
In her right hand a silver dagger
Repetition of the image of the silver dagger in the mother's right hand.
She says that I can't be your bride
Restatement of the mother's prohibition against the speaker becoming someone's bride.
Comment