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.
There Was Nothing We Could Do
Bill Monroe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From her eyes the light of Heaven shone through
She fell sick one cold winter morning
And there was nothing we could do
She lay on her death bed so bravely
Her face all tired and worn
We knew in our hearts she was leaving
As she lay on the bed she was smiling
At the people all gathered a-round
It was her only way of saying goodbye
And tomorrow she'd lay neath the ground
The fragrance of flowers from her grave
Goes to heaven where she has gone too
Mortal pain shown on all our faces
But there was nothing we could do
When the preacher began to console us
His words rang out clear and true
He said God called her that's the reason
That there was nothing we could do
The lyrics of Bill Monroe's song "There Was Nothing We Could Do" tell the story of a community of people who are grieving the loss of a beloved maiden. The maiden was cherished by all who knew her, and her sickness and subsequent death have left the community feeling helpless and despondent. The song highlights the universal experience of loss, as well as the power of faith and hope in the face of tragedy. Despite feeling powerless, the community is comforted by the belief that the maiden has gone to be with God, and by the knowledge that they will someday be reunited with her.
The lyrics paint a vivid picture of grief and sorrow, but they also suggest an underlying sense of peace and acceptance. The maiden is described as having a "light of Heaven" in her eyes, and when she smiles on her deathbed, it is interpreted as a way of saying goodbye. The use of flowers as a symbol of the maiden's spirit ascending to Heaven is also a powerful and evocative image. In the end, the preacher's words serve to remind the community that while they may be mourning the loss of the maiden, her passing was part of God's plan, and there was nothing anyone could have done to change that.
Overall, the lyrics to "There Was Nothing We Could Do" are a poignant and heartfelt tribute to loss, grief, and the power of faith. The song captures the universal experience of tragedy and the ways in which we cope with loss, offering a message of hope and comfort in the face of seemingly insurmountable sorrow.
Line by Line Meaning
We all loved our fair tender maiden
We had deep affection for the young and gentle woman
From her eyes the light of Heaven shone through
Her eyes were filled with a divine glow
She fell sick one cold winter morning
One winter morning she became ill
And there was nothing we could do
We were helpless and powerless to change the situation
She lay on her death bed so bravely
She was courageous as she lay on her death bed
Her face all tired and worn
Her face was fatigued and exhausted
We knew in our hearts she was leaving
We were aware that she was departing from this life
God had called her to His heavenly home
She had been summoned to God's dwelling in heaven
As she lay on the bed she was smiling
She wore a smile as she lay on the bed
At the people all gathered a-round
Around her, people had come to see her
It was her only way of saying goodbye
Smiling was her way of bidding farewell
And tomorrow she'd lay neath the ground
The following day she would be laid to rest below the earth
The fragrance of flowers from her grave
The aroma of flowers emanating from her grave
Goes to heaven where she has gone too
The scent reaches heaven where she now resides
Mortal pain shown on all our faces
We all experienced the anguish of human suffering on our faces
But there was nothing we could do
Despite the pain, we were unable to change the circumstances
When the preacher began to console us
The preacher attempted to comfort and console us
His words rang out clear and true
His words conveyed a genuine and sincere message
He said God called her that's the reason
The preacher explained that God had summoned her from this world
That there was nothing we could do
The fact that she was taken by God meant there was nothing we could have done
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CARSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bluegrass Country Radio
Each song is meaningful and it's soothing to the soul when you stressed especially this time of pandemic..God bless all the listeners 😍😊
Tony Haley
This was done when Kenny Baker had just begun to put his influence and genius into Bill's music! Thank you so, so much for all the wonderful stuff you put on your site!!!!!
Rex Hamann
This album is the pride of my collection and have enjoyed it on and off for years. Columbus Stockade Blues really brings it home. And Baker's Breakdown...just slices!
ruff hardin
One of my favorite albums! Thanks for posting.
Sid Griffin
The first Bill Monroe LP I ever purchased and I think my first true bluegrass album ever too. I dislike the reverb on the vocals but some of the tunes kick ass and take names.
MICHAEL HALL OFFICIAL MUSIC CHANNEL
I just bought the UK Brunswick release of this great album. One of my favs.
John Robertson
Miss Bessie on all tracks!
james miller
Another big Thank You Take.!!!
Jaroslav Necesany
Best of...
Darrell Talbott
Thanks y’all for your Coolbeans