Down In The Willow Garden
Tragic Tale in Willow's Embrace
Lyrics
Down in the willow garden
Setting is described as a willow garden, the location of a meeting.
Where me and my true love did meet
Reference to a meeting between the singer and their true love in the willow garden.
It was there we were courtin'
They were in the process of courtship or dating.
My love fell off to sleep
The true love fell asleep, potentially vulnerable.
I laid a bottle of burgundy wine
The singer laid out wine without their true love's knowledge.
My true love she did not know
The true love was unaware of the wine being present.
It was there I murdered that dear little girl
Statement of committing murder against the dear little girl.
Down on the banks below
Location of the murder, down on the banks below.
I drew my saber through her
Describing the act of using a saber (sword) to harm the victim.
It was a bloody knife
Description of the weapon as a bloody knife.
I threw her into the river
Discarding the body into the river after the murder.
It was an awful sight
Portrayal of the scene as horrific or dreadful.
My father often told me
The father's advice about the potential freedom from committing this crime for money.
That money would set me free
Connection of freedom with the act of murdering Rose Connelly.
If I would murder that poor little girl
Reiteration of the murder for gaining freedom and mentioning the victim's name.
Whose name was Rose Connelly
Identifying the victim as Rose Connelly.
Now he stands at his cabin door
Description of the father standing outside his cabin.
Wiping his tears from his eyes
The father wiping tears, expressing deep sadness.
Gazing on his own dear son
Observing his own son facing the gallows (scaffold).
Upon the scaffold high
Highlighting the height and visibility of the scaffold for execution.
My race is run beneath the sun
Expressing completion or the end of the singer's life journey under the sun.
The devil is waiting for me
A belief in facing punishment by the devil for the committed murder.
For I did murder that dear little girl
Admitting to the murder of Rose Connelly and anticipating consequences.
Whose name was Rose Connelly
Reiteration of the victim's name, Rose Connelly, in association with the murder.
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