In the rock (and roll) community, Bill Monroe may be best known via one of Elvis Presley's earliest recordings at Sun Records, that of Monroe's 'Blue Moon of Kentucky'. Patsy Cline also made a highly regarded version of this song.
All The Good Times Are Past And Gone
Bill Monroe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or died when I was young
I never would have seen your sparkling blue eyes
Or heard your lying tongue
All the good times are past and gone
All the good times are o'er
All the good times are past and gone
Don't you see that turtle dove
That flies from pine to pine
He's mourning for his own true love
Just like I mourn for mine
Come back, come back my own true love
And stay awhile with me
For if ever I've had a friend in this world
You've been that friend to me
The first verse of this song is filled with deep despair and longing for an escape from reality. The singer is wishing they had never been born or had died young because they would have been spared the hurt that is caused by being in love with someone who is not faithful. The "sparkling blue eyes" refer to the person's appearance, which caught the singer's attention, but in the end, their "lying tongue" caused them immense pain.
The chorus, "All the good times are past and gone," is repeated three times, highlighting the regret and sorrow that lingers after a relationship ends. The singer is telling their loved one not to cry anymore, recognizing that it's too late to change anything. In the second verse, the singer draws a comparison to the mourning of the turtle dove; just like the bird mourns for its mate, the singer mourns for theirs.
The last verse is the most poignant, as the singer is asking their former lover to return and stay with them. They recognize that in this world, they have never had a friend quite like them. The song is a testament to the pain that comes with love, as well as the longing for reconciliation and comfort.
Line by Line Meaning
I wish to the lord I'd never been born
I deeply regret my existence
Or died when I was young
Rather than live with the pain of losing you, I would have preferred to never exist
I never would have seen your sparkling blue eyes
My love for you is so strong that it hurts me to remember how beautiful you are
Or heard your lying tongue
My love for you makes it hard to accept the hurtful things you've said to me
All the good times are past and gone
We had good times once, but they are now in the past and can't be relived
All the good times are o'er
Sadly, we can't go back to the good times we shared
All the good times are past and gone
I feel a great sense of loss for the good times that we had
Little darling don't weep no more
Please don't cry, it only makes the pain worse
Don't you see that turtle dove
The pain of lost love is felt by all creatures, even the mourning bird flying in the trees
That flies from pine to pine
The bird is searching for its lost love in the trees
He's mourning for his own true love
The bird feels the pain of losing its love, just like I do
Just like I mourn for mine
I share the bird's sorrow over the loss of my love
Come back, come back my own true love
My love for you is so strong that I can't bear to be without you
And stay awhile with me
Please come back and spend time with me
For if ever I've had a friend in this world
You are more than just my lover, you are my best friend and confidant
You've been that friend to me
You have been there for me through thick and thin, and I miss your companionship
Contributed by Gabriella P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ragtime Ryan
I was introduced to this song from
THE WEARY BOYS… and I still play it nearly every time I pick up a guitar. Love this tune.
The Surferjo Show with Chef Frankie
great song................