I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow
Eternal Wandering: A Tale of Sorrow and Redemption
Lyrics
I am a man of constant sorrow,
The speaker identifies as a man who consistently experiences sorrow.
I've seen trouble all my day
The speaker has faced troubles throughout his life.
I bid farewell to old Kentucky,
The speaker says goodbye to his home state, Kentucky.
The place where I was born and raised
Refers to Kentucky as the place of the speaker's birth and upbringing.
(The place where he was born and raised)
Reiteration of the significance of Kentucky in the speaker's life.
For six long years I've been in trouble,
Expresses that the speaker has been in trouble for an extended period.
No pleasures here on earth I found
No joy or happiness has been found during the speaker's time on earth.
For in this world I'm bound to ramble,
The speaker feels compelled to wander in this world without a clear purpose.
I have no friends to help me now
The speaker is alone and without friends to support him.
(He has no friends to help him now)
Reiteration of the speaker's lack of friends and support.
It's fare thee well my old lover
The speaker bids farewell to an old lover.
I never expect to see you again
Expresses a lack of expectation to reunite with the old lover.
For I'm bound to ride that northern railroad,
The speaker anticipates traveling on the northern railroad.
Perhaps I'll die upon this train
Speculation that the speaker may die during this journey.
(Perhaps he'll die upon this train)
Reiteration of the uncertainty surrounding the speaker's fate on the train.
You can bury me in some deep valley,
The speaker expresses a preference for burial in a deep valley.
For many years where I may lay
The speaker suggests a prolonged period of rest in the grave.
Then you may learn to love another,
Encourages the old lover to move on and love someone else.
While I am sleeping in my grave
The speaker emphasizes his absence during the lover's new relationships.
(While he is sleeping in his grave)
Reiteration of the speaker's absence during the lover's life.
Maybe your friends think I'm just a stranger
The speaker suggests that others may see him as a stranger.
My face, you'll never see no more
The old lover will never see the speaker's face again.
But there is one promise that is given
A promise is made that the speaker and the old lover will meet on God's golden shore.
I'll meet you on God's golden shore
Reiteration of the promise to reunite in the afterlife.
(He'll meet you on God's golden shore)
Reiteration of the promise to meet on God's golden shore.
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