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She Is Like The Swallow Lyrics
She's like the swallow that flies on high
She's like the river that never runs dry
She's like the sun beaming on the lea shore
I love my love, but love is no more
A maiden into her garden did go
For to pluck her some wild primrose
The more she plucked, the more she did pull
Until this maiden's apron was full
Then out of these roses she made a bed
A scarlet pillow for her head
She laid her down, no words she did speak
And then this maiden's heart, it did break
She's like the swallow that flies on high
She's like the river that never runs dry
She's like the sun beaming on the lea shore
I love my love, but love is no more
She's like the river that never runs dry
She's like the sun beaming on the lea shore
I love my love, but love is no more
For to pluck her some wild primrose
The more she plucked, the more she did pull
Until this maiden's apron was full
A scarlet pillow for her head
She laid her down, no words she did speak
And then this maiden's heart, it did break
She's like the river that never runs dry
She's like the sun beaming on the lea shore
I love my love, but love is no more
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I love the version from Lucia Micarelli on violin, and Leigh Nash vocals. It's an amazing, amazing version.
I would love some commentary on this song, because I would like to get other's ideas on what the song is about.
I love the imagery of a young woman gathering roses, and her 'making' her death bed; but I'm confused by the chorus which describes her with such resilient similes-a river that never runs dry, for instance.
So...what do other people think? In any case it's beautiful.
Karan said, in the CD booklet, that it's about a woman having a miscarriage. I can't exactly remember how, and the booklet is thusly missing. I think it was about how she went into the garden to give birth, but the baby was still born, hence, "I love my love, but love is no more" meaning the baby's life is gone, and she loved it but cannot now. The river running dry is maybe blood running dry? I can't remember. 8D
Sorry to be so late to the party, but I've come across a longer version of this traditional lyric as performed by a Newfoundland folk ensemble. I think it makes clear who and what the young woman is mourning. Here it is:
She's like the swallow that flies so high, She's like the river that never runs dry, She's like the sun that shines on the lee shore I love my love, but love is no more.
T'was down in the meadow this fair maid went A-plucking the rose just as she went, The more she plucked and the more she pulled Until she'd gathered her apron full.
She climbed on yonder hill above To give the roses unto her love She gave him one, she gave him three She gave him her heart for company.
How foolish, foolish you must be, To think I loves no one but thee. The world's not made for one alone, I takes delight in everyone.
It's of those roses she made a bed, A stony pillow unto her head, Now this fair maid, no word did she say, Until her very dying day.
There is a man on yonder hill He's living there and living still He's got a heart as hard as stone, He's got two hearts instead of one.
She's like the swallow that flies so high, She's like the river that never runs dry, She's like the sun that shines on the lee shore I love my love, but love is no more.