The Scarlet Tide
Elvis Costello & The Imposters Lyrics
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Guilty of nothing but loving you
This is the judgment
And I'm willing to plead
How you don't want me
Hoping this torment will cease
Will I be released
There'll be lies, there'll be tears
A jury of your peers
With a pitiful lack of experience
Hand down the judgment
And if I done wrong
And loved you too long
Stand up and just testify
How can I deny
Objection overruled
I wait for my reprieve
With the trust of the deceived
The wisdom of the fool
It's his sorrowful face
Too heavy for his head
'Cause he bowed it as something come over him
It was the judgment
He falls to his knees
Have mercy on me
He clings to the hem of her gown
She says, "Just take him down."
In Elvis Costello & The Imposters' song The Scarlet Tide, the lyrics evoke feelings of betrayal, judgment and sorrow. The opening lines, "The accused will rise to be torn in two, Guilty of nothing but loving you," set the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is willing to plead for forgiveness, hoping that the torment caused by the judgment will cease. It is clear that the singer is deeply in love with someone, but their love is not reciprocated. The line, "How you don't want me," conveys a sense of desperation and sadness.
The lyric "There'll be lies, there'll be tears, A jury of your peers, With a pitiful lack of experience, Hand down the judgment" speaks to the idea that judgment is not always fair or just. The singer seems resigned to the idea that they will be found guilty despite being innocent of any wrongdoing, simply because their love is not returned. The lines "Objection overruled, I wait for my reprieve, With the trust of the deceived, The wisdom of the fool" paint a picture of someone who is helpless and at the mercy of their accusers. The final verse finds the accused falling to their knees, begging for mercy. The final line, "She says, 'Just take him down,'" shows that the accused's love interest is callous and unsympathetic to their plight.
Overall, The Scarlet Tide is a powerful and emotional song that explores themes of love, judgment and betrayal. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of someone who is caught up in a situation that they cannot control, and who is ultimately doomed to suffer the consequences of their love.
Line by Line Meaning
The accused will rise to be torn in two
The person accused of wrongdoing will be tried and punished severely
Guilty of nothing but loving you
The person is accused of no actual wrongdoing, except for loving their accuser
This is the judgment
This is the sentence that is being given in the trial
And I'm willing to plead
I am ready to present my case
How you don't want me
I understand that you do not desire me
Hoping this torment will cease
I am hoping that this suffering will come to an end
Will I be released
Am I going to be set free?
There'll be lies, there'll be tears
The trial will involve deceit and emotional distress
A jury of your peers
The trial will be judged by people of the same age, social status, or experience as the accused
With a pitiful lack of experience
The jurors are inexperienced and unqualified to make a fair judgment
Hand down the judgment
Give the verdict or sentence
And if I done wrong
If I have truly committed an offense
And loved you too long
And my love for you has gone too far
Stand up and just testify
Speak up and provide evidence to incriminate me
How can I deny
I cannot deny the truth
Objection overruled
Disagreement is rejected by the court
I wait for my reprieve
I wait for a pardon or forgiveness
With the trust of the deceived
I am placing my trust in someone who has already deceived me
The wisdom of the fool
The decisions and actions of a foolish person
It's his sorrowful face
He is feeling a heavy sense of sadness and regret
Too heavy for his head
The weight of his emotions is overwhelming him
'Cause he bowed it as something come over him
Due to an external force, he has lowered his head in despair
He falls to his knees
He collapses to the ground, completely exhausted
Have mercy on me
Please show me compassion
He clings to the hem of her gown
He tries to hold on to her clothing, begging for her help
She says, 'Just take him down.'
She orders to have him removed or arrested
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Cait O'Riordan, Elvis Costello
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind