Wagoner's Lad
Fortune and Freedom: The Heart's Struggle
Lyrics
The heart is the fortune of all women kind
The heart symbolizes the essence or emotional core of women.
They're always controlled, they're always confined
Women are consistently restrained or restricted in various ways.
Controlled by their parents until they are wives
Parents exert control over women until they become wives.
Then slaves to their husbands the rest of their lives
Once married, women become subservient to their husbands for the rest of their lives.
I am a poor girl, my fortune is sad
The speaker, a poor girl, expresses a sorrowful fate.
I've always been courted by the wagoner's lad
The wagoner's lad has consistently courted the speaker.
He courted my dailey, by night and by day
The lad courted the speaker both day and night.
Now his wagon is loaded and he's going away
Now, the lad's wagon is loaded, and he's departing.
Your parents don't like me because I am poor
The speaker's parents disapprove of the lad due to his poverty.
They say I'm not worthy of entering your door
Parents believe the lad is unworthy of their daughter.
I work for my living, my money's my own
The speaker works for a living, and her money is her own.
If they don't like me they can leave me alone
If the parents don't like the speaker's choice, they can leave her alone.
Your horses are hungry go feed them some hay
The lad is urged to attend to his hungry horses.
Come sit down here by me as long as you stay
The speaker invites the lad to sit with her while he stays.
My horses ain't hungry, they won't eat your hay
The lad states his horses are not hungry and bids farewell.
So fair thee well darlin. I'll feed on my way
The lad leaves, saying goodbye, and continues on his journey.
Your wagon needs greasin', you whip is to mend
The lad is informed that his wagon needs greasing and whip mending.
Come sit down here by me as long as you can
The lad is invited to sit with the speaker for as long as he can.
My wagon is greasy, my whip's in my hand
The lad declares his wagon is greasy, and he's ready to leave.
So fair thee well darlin' no longer to stand
The lad bids farewell, indicating he can no longer stay.
The heart is the fortune of all women kind
Repetition of the idea that the heart is the fortune of women.
They're always controlled, they're always confined
Reiteration that women are consistently controlled and confined.
Controlled by their parents until they are wives
Repetition of the notion that parents control women until marriage.
Then slaves to their husbands the rest of their lives
Repetition that after marriage, women become slaves to their husbands.
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