4 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A
Can She Excuse My Wrongs? Lyrics
Can she excuse my wrongs with Virtue's cloak?
Shall I call her good when she proves unkind?
Are those clear fires which vanish into smoke?
Must I praise the leaves where no fruit I find?
No, no, where shadows do for bodies stand
Thou may'st be abus'd if thy sight be dimmed
Cold love is like to words written on sand
Or to bubbles which on the water swim
Wilt thou be thus abused still
Seeing that she will right thee never?
If thou cans't not o'ercome her will
Thy love will be thus fruitless ever
Wilt thou be thus abused still
Seeing that she will right thee never?
If thou cans't not o'ercome her will
Thy love will be thus fruitless ever
Was I so base, that I might not aspire
Unto those high joys which she holds from me?
As they are high, so high is my desire
If she this deny, what can granted be?
If she will yield to that which Reason is
It is Reason's will that Love should be just
Dear, make me happy still by granting this
Or cut off delays if that I die must
Better a thousand times to die
Than for to live thus still tormented
Dear, but remember it was I
Who for thy sake did die contented
Better a thousand times to die
Than for to live thus still tormented
Dear, but remember it was I
Who for thy sake did die contented
Shall I call her good when she proves unkind?
Are those clear fires which vanish into smoke?
Must I praise the leaves where no fruit I find?
Thou may'st be abus'd if thy sight be dimmed
Cold love is like to words written on sand
Or to bubbles which on the water swim
Wilt thou be thus abused still
Seeing that she will right thee never?
If thou cans't not o'ercome her will
Thy love will be thus fruitless ever
Seeing that she will right thee never?
If thou cans't not o'ercome her will
Thy love will be thus fruitless ever
Unto those high joys which she holds from me?
As they are high, so high is my desire
If she this deny, what can granted be?
It is Reason's will that Love should be just
Dear, make me happy still by granting this
Or cut off delays if that I die must
Better a thousand times to die
Than for to live thus still tormented
Dear, but remember it was I
Who for thy sake did die contented
Than for to live thus still tormented
Dear, but remember it was I
Who for thy sake did die contented
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
I’ll try it—remember, I’m not good at this! Okay…
Can she be virtuous and give me a break? Should I say she’s nice when she isn’t? Is clarity clouded? Why should I be happy when I don’t have shit?
Maybe not—there are angels without bodies hanging out Careful—you could be abused if you get too close Cold love is about as satisfying as words written in sand that the sea takes away. Or bubbles that dissipate in the waves. Will you still feel abused Seeing as she won’t give you a leg up? If you can’t change her mind Your love will be pointless.
I wasn’t so crappy—I deserve better than this—she’s being quite the hard ass. My desire is as high as her love. If she won’t budge—what can this love mean?
If she would use her head for a change [Love should be fair, shouldn’t it?] Be reasonable—death has to be better than pining away for an unforgiving love. I’d want her to remember—only death brought me respite.
My, this babe is rude. But in fairness, it could be something else halting her from relenting—whoever this lady was. Could … Oh and, written by John Dowland. Catchy little tune … You haven’t even heard it! Oh…. Silly me
Rothenberg and Hollo
Were you sleeping today? Yes And yesterday? Yes And will you be sleeping tomorrow when the moon comes back? I will be watching the moon Will you be watching the moon forever? I don’t know. Do you? Your voice is sleepy
A penny Two will get you candy I want a rope to swing from I want to suffer I want to fall on my face like some pig I want to see someone stop me I’m too cautious—I’m not too cautious—kiss me
I can’t bite what I can’t remember I can’t remember what I can’t bite I can’t cry—I can’t try—I can’t die
Be a hundred and ten Go to sleep Say au revoir
She used to be angry She is still sleeping He says that’s boring [He needs to be kissed by someone complicated] High cloud Populous raft of confusion Drifting across the sky—while fur turns gray
Some other tracks to watch: 'Clear or Cloudy' and 'Can She Excuse My Wrongs?' (Wait 'til tea leaf readers get a hold of the latter! But Sting's wife, Trudie, needn't worry).
Comment from an interview by Roger Friedman.
[The “sting choir” effect of Fine Knacks For Ladies] is not overdone, and consequently provides some additional richness and warmth particularly in the jaunty 'Can she excuse my wrongs?' Interestingly, the latter was reputedly written by Robert Devereux the Earl of Essex, one of Queen Elizabeth's favorite courtiers until she finally tired of him, signing his death warrant in 1601, an act that it is reputed to have broken her aging heart.
[sting.com]