The Month of January
Love's Betrayal in January: A Bitter Tale of Heartbreak
Lyrics
It was in the month of January, the hills were clad in snow
Describes the setting in January with snow-covered hills.
As over hills and valleys, my true love he did go
The narrator's true love is traveling over hills and valleys.
It was there he spied a pretty fair maid, with a salt tear in her eye
The true love sees a maid with tears in her eyes and holding a baby.
She had a baby in her arms, and bitter she did cry
The maid is crying bitterly, possibly due to a difficult situation.
"Oh, cruel was my father to bar the door on me
The narrator's father was cruel to lock the door, preventing entry.
And cruel was my mother, this dreadful crime to see
The mother witnessed a dreadful event, possibly related to the locked door.
Cruel was my own true love to change his mind for gold
The true love was cruel to abandon the narrator for wealth.
Cruel was that winter's night that pierced my heart with cold"
Describes a harsh winter night that emotionally affected the narrator.
Oh, the taller that the palm tree grows, the sweeter is the bark
Metaphorically compares the sweetness of palm tree bark to a deceptive young man.
And the fairer that a young man speaks, the falser is his heart
Suggests that charming words from a young man may be insincere.
He will kiss you and embrace you, 'till he thinks he has you won
Describes the deceptive behavior of a young man who pretends to be in love.
Then he'll go away and leave you all for some other one
Warns that a young man may leave for another person after gaining affection.
So come all you pretty fair maids, a warning take by me
Addresses all fair maids, advising them to heed the narrator's warning.
And never try to build your nest on top of any tree
Advises against building a nest (relationship) on top of a tree (unstable foundation).
For the roots, they will all wither, and the branches all decay
Metaphorically explains that relationships built on shaky foundations will wither.
And the beauties of a false young man, must all soon fade away
Highlights the transient nature of the attractiveness of a deceptive young man.
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