5 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A
Bitter Green Lyrics
Upon the bitter green,
She walked the hills above the town,
Echo to her footsteps,
As soft as Eider down,
Waiting for her master,
To kiss away the tears,
Waiting through the years.
Bitter Green, they called her,
Walking in the sun,
Loving everyone that she met,
Bitter Green, they called her,
Waiting in the sun,
Waiting for someone,
To take her home.
Some say he was a sailor,
Who died away at sea,
Some say he was a prisoner,
Who never was set free,
Lost upon the ocean,
He died there in the mist,
Dreaming of her kiss.
But now the bitter green is gone,
The hills have turned to rust,
There comes a weary stranger,
His tears fall in the dust,
Kneeling by the churchyard,
In the Autumn mist,
Dreaming of a kiss.
She walked the hills above the town,
Echo to her footsteps,
As soft as Eider down,
Waiting for her master,
To kiss away the tears,
Waiting through the years.
Bitter Green, they called her,
Walking in the sun,
Loving everyone that she met,
Bitter Green, they called her,
Waiting in the sun,
Waiting for someone,
To take her home.
Some say he was a sailor,
Who died away at sea,
Some say he was a prisoner,
Who never was set free,
Lost upon the ocean,
He died there in the mist,
Dreaming of her kiss.
But now the bitter green is gone,
The hills have turned to rust,
There comes a weary stranger,
His tears fall in the dust,
Kneeling by the churchyard,
In the Autumn mist,
Dreaming of a kiss.
Song Info
Submitted by
madcappunk On Aug 06, 2006
More Gordon Lightfoot
If You Could Read My Mind
Sundown
The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald
Carefree Highway
Summer Side Of Life
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
If, as quite a few people say, the song concerns dog, why, on the travellers return, would he be kneeling by a Church Yard? If the poor dog had died, why would anyone have buried him in such a place?
@big1128358 Why not
@big1128358 Why not
I think Lightfoot was influenced by traditional folk songs that have a sad tale to tell. In this case, Bitter Green's lover/husband has gone away and not returned, no one knows why. She's still waiting for him to come home. Others would have moved on, since it's been a long time. He eventually does come back, but she's died.
It's about a dog.
It's about a dog .Without a doubt.
I don't know that it is about a dog for sure. The lyrics "Waiting for someone to take her hand", don't make me think dog. Now had it said "home" consistently in the chorus instead of "hand", it would be more clear...but even listening to him sing it, it is what is written here. However, a dog might be buried next to a churchyard, but then so could someone who wasn't a member of the church....either may not be buried in the church but next to it instead.