Lend me your ear while I call you a fool.
You were kissed by a witch one night in the wood,
and later insisted your feelings were true.
The witch's promise was coming,
believing he listened while laughing you flew.

Leaves falling red, yellow, brown, all are the same,
and the love you have found lay outside in the rain.
Washed clean by the water but nursing its pain.
The witch's promise was coming, and you're looking
elsewhere for your own selfish gain.

Keep looking, keep looking for somewhere to be,
well, you're wasting your time, they're not stupid like he is.
Meanwhile leaves are still falling, you're too blind to see.

You won't find it easy now, it's only fair.
He was willing to give to you, you didn't care.
You're waiting for more but you've already had your share.
The witch's promise is turning, so don't you wait up
for him, he's going to be late.


Lyrics submitted by knate15

Witch's Promise Lyrics as written by Ian Anderson

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

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Witch's Promise song meanings
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  • +1
    My Interpretation

    "Witch's Promise" struck home with me when I was 17. Already heard the song many, many times when, in my naivete, I finally discovered my girlfriend was a whore; who cleverly kept several boyfriends--most of whom (like me) thought they were the only one.

    Every Poignant word in the poem--personally and profoundly struck home! Cause I was the fool who kissed (and more) the witch in a car in the woods. In so being she was the first, of course, I felt my feelings were true; while she must have had a good laugh! Tull creates a terrific triple entendre; this is in the 2nd stanza. For I believe the leaves represent: the different boyfriends, time, and the romantic feeling one experiences while walking with one’s love in the autumn. Thus, as she approaches the Fall of the springtime in her youth; all of her toys (i.e. boyfriends) (toyfriends) she takes for granted—finally wizen up. She looks for fresh victims but high school is at its end; there are no more FRESH MEN. Even though she is still extremely young and able to find love, she just can’t seem to let herself settle for a mature romance.

    paul112771on May 30, 2015   Link

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