Spring
Cheryl Wheeler Lyrics
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In a broken down apartment house
Laid a woman in labor
She said by the grace of God
I'll have this child
And the help of a neighbor
Six o'clock the sun was rising
Seven forty-five the neighbor smiled
And said you got a beautiful girl
She named her Spring
Winter's been a long time passing
She named her Spring
And though she's never been wed
She held her newborn child and said
Ah Spring
I've waited a long long time for you
In a broken down apartment house
Lay a woman dying
By her side a little six year old girl
Who was softly crying
Momma don't go away
And leave me all alone
Momma said to the welfare lady
Find my child a good home
I miss my Spring
Ah winter's been a long time passing
I miss you Spring
The angels came that day
The welfare lady knelt to pray
Ah Spring
She'll be long time gone from you
A beautiful church outside of town
Stands a woman smiling
On her hand is a wedding band
Of fashionable styling
All these years in the orphan's home
He shares with you
Now all your hopes and your childhood dreams
Have all come true
He loves you Spring
Winter's been a long time passing
He needs you Spring
He promised you today
He would never never go away
Ah Spring
He's waited a long long time for you
Long long time for you
The song "Spring" by Cheryl Wheeler is a poignant ballad that tells the story of two women and their experiences with motherhood. The first woman is giving birth to a child in a run-down apartment building, with the support of her neighbor. Despite being unwed, the woman names her daughter Spring and fills her with hope and love. The second woman, who is dying, has already had a child named Spring, who is now an orphan in need of a good home. The welfare lady takes the girl away, leaving the woman to spend her final moments alone with her daughter. The song ends in a hopeful note, with a third woman who has been waiting a long time for Spring - this time, in the form of a wedding band on her hand. She has found love and is now married to a man who promises to never leave her.
The theme of motherhood is explored in different ways throughout the song. The first woman is brave and resilient, choosing to bring a new life into the world even though she is alone and poor. This echoes the experience of many single mothers who face hardships but remain devoted to their children. The second woman is full of regret, wishing she could have held onto her daughter for a little longer. Her sadness highlights the pain of separation and loss that comes with adoption. The third woman represents hope and renewal, as she has finally found the love and stability that she has been seeking.
Line by Line Meaning
In a broken down apartment house
The setting of the story begins in a poor housing unit.
Laid a woman in labor
A woman is in the process of giving birth in the poor housing unit.
She said by the grace of God
I'll have this child
And the help of a neighbor
With faith in a higher power and the assistance of a neighbor, the woman believes she can deliver her child safely.
Six o'clock the sun was rising
All upon the world
The birth takes place at dawn.
Seven forty-five the neighbor smiled
And said you got a beautiful girl
The neighbor confirms that the baby born is a girl and commends her beauty.
She named her Spring
Winter's been a long time passing
She named her Spring
And though she's never been wed
She held her newborn child and said
Ah Spring
I've waited a long long time for you
The mother names her baby girl 'Spring' since it has been a long time since she's had a child, though she's never married.
In a broken down apartment house
Lay a woman dying
By her side a little six year old girl
Who was softly crying
The scene shifts to the same poor housing unit where the dying woman now lies with her crying six-year-old daughter beside her.
Momma don't go away
And leave me all alone
Momma said to the welfare lady
Find my child a good home
I miss my Spring
The dying woman requests that her daughter is taken care of and begs the welfare lady to find the child a good home. She fondly remembers her youngest daughter 'Spring'.
Ah winter's been a long time passing
I miss you Spring
The mother reminisces about her daughter in the midst of winter.
The angels came that day
The welfare lady knelt to pray
Ah Spring
She'll be long time gone from you
The woman eventually passes away when the angels come, leaving her daughter to be taken in by the welfare lady. It will be a long time until they see or hear from each other again.
A beautiful church outside of town
Stands a woman smiling
On her hand is a wedding band
Of fashionable styling
The setting changes to a beautiful church outside town, where a woman wearing a fashionable wedding band is smiling.
All these years in the orphan's home
He shares with you
Now all your hopes and your childhood dreams
Have all come true
Years after being taken in, the woman finally returns to share a home with her now-husband, thus finding love and fulfilling her childhood dreams.
He loves you Spring
Winter's been a long time passing
He needs you Spring
He promised you today
He would never never go away
Ah Spring
He's waited a long long time for you
Long long time for you
Her husband adores her and has waited for her for a long time, despite spending many winters apart. He promises never to leave her.
Lyrics © GET SONGS DIRECT
Written by: CHERYL WHEELER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind