In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Oh, the maid went down to the well for to wash,
And the dew fell down from her snow-white flesh,
The dew fell down from her snow-white flesh,
As the sun shone down so early.
And as she washed, as she wrung,
She hung them out on the hazel wand,
She hung them out on the hazel wand,
And by there came a palmer man.
Oh, God speed you, Old Man, she cries,
God speed you, you pretty fair maid,
God speed you, you pretty fair maid,
As the sun shines down so early.
Have you got a cup, have you got a can?
Can you give a drink to a palmer-man?
Can you give a drink to a palmer-man?
As the sun shines down so early.
Oh, I've no cup and I've no can,
And I cannot give a drink to a palmer-man,
And I cannot give a drink to a palmer-man,
As the sun shines down so early.
You lie, you lie, you are forsworn,
For if your truelove came from Rome,
Then a cup, a can you'd find for him,
As the sun shines down so early.
Now, she swore by God and the good St. John.
True lover she had never a one,
True lover she had never a one,
As the sun shines down so early.
You lie, you lie, you are forsworn,
For nine children you have born,
For nine children you have born,
As the sun shines down so early.
Oh, there's three of them lying under your bed-head,
Three of them under the hearth are laid,
Three of them under the hearth are laid,
As the sun shines down so early.
Three more laying on yonder green,
Count, fair maid, for that makes nine,
Count, fair maid, for that makes nine,
As the sun shines down so early.
Palmer, oh, Palmer, do tell me,
Penance that you will give to me,
Penance that you will give to me,
As the sun shines down so early.
Penance I will give thee none,
But seven years as a stepping stone,
But seven years as a stepping stone,
As the sun shines down so early.
Seven more as a clapper to ring in the bell,
Seven to run from the apes of hell,
Seven to run from the apes of hell,
As the sun shines down so early.
Welcome, welcome stepping stone,
Welcome clapper in the bell to ring,
Welcome clapper in the bell to ring,
As the sun shines down so early.
Welcome stone, welcome bell,
Christ, keep me from the apes of hell,
Christ, keep me from the apes of hell,
As the sun shines down so early.
And the dew fell down from her snow-white flesh,
The dew fell down from her snow-white flesh,
As the sun shone down so early.
And as she washed, as she wrung,
She hung them out on the hazel wand,
She hung them out on the hazel wand,
And by there came a palmer man.
Oh, God speed you, Old Man, she cries,
God speed you, you pretty fair maid,
God speed you, you pretty fair maid,
As the sun shines down so early.
Have you got a cup, have you got a can?
Can you give a drink to a palmer-man?
Can you give a drink to a palmer-man?
As the sun shines down so early.
Oh, I've no cup and I've no can,
And I cannot give a drink to a palmer-man,
And I cannot give a drink to a palmer-man,
As the sun shines down so early.
You lie, you lie, you are forsworn,
For if your truelove came from Rome,
Then a cup, a can you'd find for him,
As the sun shines down so early.
Now, she swore by God and the good St. John.
True lover she had never a one,
True lover she had never a one,
As the sun shines down so early.
You lie, you lie, you are forsworn,
For nine children you have born,
For nine children you have born,
As the sun shines down so early.
Oh, there's three of them lying under your bed-head,
Three of them under the hearth are laid,
Three of them under the hearth are laid,
As the sun shines down so early.
Three more laying on yonder green,
Count, fair maid, for that makes nine,
Count, fair maid, for that makes nine,
As the sun shines down so early.
Palmer, oh, Palmer, do tell me,
Penance that you will give to me,
Penance that you will give to me,
As the sun shines down so early.
Penance I will give thee none,
But seven years as a stepping stone,
But seven years as a stepping stone,
As the sun shines down so early.
Seven more as a clapper to ring in the bell,
Seven to run from the apes of hell,
Seven to run from the apes of hell,
As the sun shines down so early.
Welcome, welcome stepping stone,
Welcome clapper in the bell to ring,
Welcome clapper in the bell to ring,
As the sun shines down so early.
Welcome stone, welcome bell,
Christ, keep me from the apes of hell,
Christ, keep me from the apes of hell,
As the sun shines down so early.
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