Willow Weep For Me
Ann Hampton Callaway Lyrics
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Oh Lord, why did you send the darkness to me?
Are the shadows forever to be?
Where's the light I'm longing to see?
Oh Lord, once we met by the old willow tree,
Now you've gone and left nothing to me,
Nothing but a sweet memory.
Willow weep for me,
Willow weep for me,
Bend your branches green,
Along the stream that runs to sea,
Listen to my plea,
Listen willow and weep for me.
Gone my lover's dream,
Lovely summer dream,
Gone and left me here
To weep my tears into the stream,
Sad as I can be,
Hear me, willow, and weep for me.
BRIDGE
Whisper to the wind
And say that love has sinned,
To leave my heart breakin'
And makin' a moan,
Murmur to the night,
To hide the starry light,
So none will find me sighing
And crying all a-lone.
Oh, weeping willow tree,
Weep in sympathy,
Bend your branches down
Along the ground and cover me,
When the shadows fall,
Bend, oh willow, and weep for me
The song "Willow Weep for Me" by Ann Hampton Callaway is a sorrowful yet poetic conversation between the singer and the willow tree as they both mourn the loss of love. The singer starts by asking the Lord why he sent darkness to her life and wondering if the shadows will ever lift. She then talks about a once beautiful memory of her and her lover by the willow tree, but now that love is gone and there is nothing left but a bittersweet memory. The singer requests the willow tree to weep for her, to bend its branches and listen to her plea for comfort.
The bridge continues with a theme of sadness and heartbreak. The singer asks the willow to whisper to the wind that love has sinned by leaving her heartbroken and alone. She asks the tree to cover her with its branches when the shadows fall and weep for her in sympathy. The last verses paint the picture of the singer's sorrowful state as she weeps into the stream and pleads with the willow to weep for her.
The song is a poignant expression of grief and loneliness after the loss of love. The singer's conversation with the willow tree provides a context for her emotions and allows for a beautiful metaphorical interpretation of love and nature.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Lord, why did you send the darkness to me?
Asking why life is so hard and dark
Are the shadows forever to be?
Questioning if the darkness will ever go away
Where's the light I'm longing to see?
Wondering where hope and happiness are hiding
Oh Lord, once we met by the old willow tree,
Remembering a happier time when things were better
Now you've gone and left nothing to me,
Feeling abandoned and alone
Nothing but a sweet memory.
Holding onto a fond memory of the past
Willow weep for me,
Asking nature to mourn with me
Bend your branches green,
Asking the willow to symbolize hope and new beginnings
Along the stream that runs to sea,
Describing the path of tears and sorrow
Listen to my plea,
Asking the willow to hear my cry for help
Listen willow and weep for me.
Asking for empathy, for someone or something to understand
Gone my lover's dream,
Reflecting on a lost love
Lovely summer dream,
Remembering a beautiful and happy time with a loved one
Gone and left me here
Feeling abandoned and alone after the loss of love
To weep my tears into the stream,
Feeling the depth of sorrow and pain, and expressing it through tears
Sad as I can be,
Describing immense grief and sadness
Hear me, willow, and weep for me.
Asking for a sign that someone or something hears and shares my pain
Whisper to the wind
Hoping for the words to be carried away on the wind, away from my heavy heart
And say that love has sinned,
Acknowledging that love can be complicated and painful
To leave my heart breakin'
Feeling the pain of heartbreak and loss
And makin' a moan,
Expressing pain and sorrow through sound
Murmur to the night,
Seeking the comfort of the night, when the world is still
To hide the starry light,
Asking for the light of stars to be hidden, to symbolize the darkness of my pain
So none will find me sighing
Hoping to hide my pain and sorrow from others
And crying all a-lone.
Describing the feeling of being alone in my pain
Oh, weeping willow tree,
Returning to the willow as a symbol of deep sadness
Weep in sympathy,
Asking the willow to symbolize my own pain and sorrow
Bend your branches down
Asking the willow to symbolize mourning and grief
Along the ground and cover me,
Asking for protection and comfort from the willow
When the shadows fall,
Asking for comfort and protection when things get especially difficult and dark
Bend, oh willow, and weep for me
Repeating the plea for empathy and understanding from the willow
Contributed by Matthew A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.