Louis Armstrong (1901 - 1971) was a trumpet player, singer, and bandleader, and is widely regarded as one of the most influential artists in the history of jazz.
Willow Weep For Me
Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong Lyrics
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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
Yes, gone my lovers dream
Lovely summer dream
Sad as I can be
Hear me willow and weep for me
[Chorus:]
Oh, whisper to the wind and say that love's a sin
Leave my heart a-breaking, and making a moan
Murmur to the night to hide her starry light
So none will find me sighing, crying all alone
Oh, willow weep tree
Weeping sympathy
Bend your branches down along the ground and cover me
When the shadows fall, bend over willow and weep for me
[Chorus]
Yes, willow weep tree
Weeping sympathy
Bend your branches down along the ground and cover me
When the shadows fall, bend over willow and weep for me
Yes
The song Willow Weep for Me, sung by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, is a poignant and sorrowful plea from the singer to a willow tree to weep for them. The lyrics are filled with heartache and longing, as the singer reminisces about a lost love, a "lovely summer dream" that has slipped away from them, leaving them alone and weeping by the stream. The willow tree becomes a symbol of comfort and empathy, as the singer implores it to "weep in sympathy" for their grief. The chorus adds another layer to the song's melancholic tone, as the singer asks the wind to acknowledge the pain of love and the night sky to hide their tears.
The song conveys a sense of deep sadness and mournfulness, perhaps reflecting the experience of loss and heartbreak that many people can relate to. The use of the willow tree, a symbol often associated with sadness and death, emphasizes the tragic nature of the singer's situation. The lyrics also suggest a sense of isolation and loneliness, as the singer imagines themselves crying all alone, hidden from view.
Overall, Willow Weep for Me is a powerful example of the emotional depth that music can convey, as well as the ability of lyrics to capture the human experience of love and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
Yes, willow weep for me
As I endure this heartbreak and despair, I implore the willow tree to weep with me in sympathy.
Willow weep for me
I am asking the willow tree to weep tears along with me as I mourn the loss of my love.
Bend your branches green along the stream that runs to sea
Oh willow, please lean your branches towards the stream and weep with me near the water running towards the vast sea.
Listen to my plea
I am asking the willow to hear my plea for comfort in this time of despair.
Listen willow and weep for me
Please listen to me, dear willow tree, and weep with me in this difficult time of sorrow and grief.
Yes, gone my lovers dream
My lover's dream is now gone and no longer a reality, leaving me in a state of heartbreak and despair.
Lovely summer dream
The dream of a beautiful summer with my lover has vanished, leaving me feeling devastated.
Gone and left me here to weep my tears into the stream
My lover left me here all alone to cry my tears into the stream as I mourn the loss of our love.
Sad as I can be
I am overwhelmed with sadness and heartache, feeling as low as I possibly could.
Hear me willow and weep for me
I am asking the willow tree to hear my cries for help and weep tears of sympathy with me.
Oh, whisper to the wind and say that love's a sin
Whisper to the wind the treacherous nature of love, a feeling that led my heart to this pit of despair.
Leave my heart a-breaking, and making a moan
Let my heart continue to break apart, creating the painful sound of a mournful moan.
Murmur to the night to hide her starry light
Whisper to the night to hide its starry light, so no one will see me crying and sighing alone.
So none will find me sighing, crying all alone
In my deep state of sorrow, I wish to be hidden from the world so that no one can see me crying and sighing alone.
Oh, willow weep tree
Once again, I implore the willow tree to weep with me in this time of heartache and despair.
Weeping sympathy
Let the willow tree weep tears of sympathy with me as we mourn the loss of my love.
Bend your branches down along the ground and cover me
Please, dear willow tree, lean your branches towards me and cover me in this difficult time.
When the shadows fall, bend over willow and weep for me
As darkness falls, please bend your branches towards me, dear willow, and weep tears of sympathy with me.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Ann Ronell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind