The Peasant's Promise
Blackmore's Night Lyrics


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One warm summer night
He rode into sight
On a wild mare that was so perfectly white
I'd dreamed he'd return
And I was right
Wishes can come true when you wish with all your might...

One look in his eyes
I had realized
His life was so simple he had no disguise
He lived day to day, no promise he would stay
But in these few words he stole my heart away

He said:
"My life's not to lead
Through power or greed
I am but a poor man
When I'm cut I bleed
A more humble man you never will meet
And here is my heart for only you to keep..."

In the shade of the willow tree
My poor peasant promised to me

No scholarly thoughts, he couldn't pay high costs
And sometimes it feels like he's totally lost
But he said this true and he said it loud
"I promise you my heart with this solemn vow..."

One warm summer night
He rode out of sight
On a wild mare that was so perfectly white
I'd dreamed he'd return and I was right
Wishes can come true when you wish with all your might...

In the shade of the willow tree
My poor peasant promised to me.





In the shade of the willow tree
My poor peasant promised to me.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Blackmore's Night's "The Peasant's Promise" paint a romantic picture of a chance encounter between the singer and a humble man who steals her heart with his genuine simplicity. The singer had dreamed of his return, and when he rode into sight on a white mare one warm summer night, she knew that wishes can come true with enough determination. The man's eyes revealed his lack of disguise and his simple way of life, which the singer finds alluring. He promises to give her his heart with a solemn vow, even though he is poor and lacks power or ambition.


The promise takes place in the shade of a willow tree, a symbol of resilience and flexibility in difficult times, and the singer repeats the promise throughout the song as a way of emphasizing its significance. The lyrics suggest that love can transcend social and economic barriers, and that true happiness can be found in the simplicity of life.


Overall, "The Peasant's Promise" is a celebration of the power of love that transcends social and economic boundaries. The song emphasizes the importance of living a simple life, and the happiness that can be found in such an existence. It also highlights the value of being true to oneself, and the strength that comes from accepting one's limitations and embracing one's vulnerabilities.


Line by Line Meaning

One warm summer night
The story begins on a warm summer night


He rode into sight
The singer arrives on a wild mare


On a wild mare that was so perfectly white
The singer arrives on a wild mare, and the color of the horse is perfectly white


I'd dreamed he'd return
The artist had previously dreamt about the return of the artist


And I was right
The dream came true, and the artist sees the return of the artist


Wishes can come true when you wish with all your might...
The singer believes that if you wish with all your might, your wishes can come true


One look in his eyes
The singer notices something about the singer by looking into his eyes


I had realized
The artist came to a realization about the artist


His life was so simple he had no disguise
The artist is honest and has a simple life without any deception


He lived day to day, no promise he would stay
The artist does not promise to stay and lives day to day


But in these few words he stole my heart away
The singer expresses his feelings and the singer fell in love with him


He said:
The artist quotes the artist's words


"My life's not to lead
The singer's life is not about leading or having power over others


Through power or greed
The singer does not want to gain power or satisfy their greed


I am but a poor man
The singer identifies himself as a poor man


When I'm cut I bleed
The artist is mortal and can be hurt like anyone else


A more humble man you never will meet
The artist is one of the most humble people you will ever meet


And here is my heart for only you to keep..."
The singer expresses his love and gives his heart to the singer


In the shade of the willow tree
The singer and the singer spend time together in the shade of the willow tree


My poor peasant promised to me
The artist is promised to by the peasant


No scholarly thoughts, he couldn't pay high costs
The artist is not highly educated, nor does he have the means to pay for expensive things


And sometimes it feels like he's totally lost
Sometimes the artist feels lost in his life


But he said this true and he said it loud
The singer is truthful when he expresses his love


"I promise you my heart with this solemn vow..."
The artist promises to the artist that his love is sincere and true


One warm summer night
The story concludes on another warm summer night


He rode out of sight
The singer leaves on a wild mare and rides away


On a wild mare that was so perfectly white
The color of the horse is still perfectly white as the singer rides away


I'd dreamed he'd return and I was right
The artist sees the artist leaving and reflects on their dream


Wishes can come true when you wish with all your might...
The artist still believes that wishes can come true if you wish with all your might


In the shade of the willow tree
The final line suggests that the singer and protagonist have spent a lot of time together under the shade of the willow tree


My poor peasant promised to me.
The singer recalls the promise made by the peasant and reflects on their love




Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: CANDICE NIGHT, RITCHIE BLACKMORE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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