My Dear Companion
Emmylou Harris Lyrics


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Written by Jean Ritchie
© 1976 Geordie Music Pub Co.

Oh have you seen my dear companion
For he was all this world to me
I hear he's gone to some far country
And that he cares no more for me
I wish I were a swallow flying
I'd fly to a high and lonesome place
I'd join the wild birds in their crying
Thinking of you and your sweet face

Oh have you seen my dear companion
For he was all this world to me
But now the stars have turned against me
And he cares no more for me

Oh when the dark is on the mountain
And all the world has gone to sleep
I will go down to the cold dark waters
And there I'll lay me down and weep

Oh have you seen my dear companion
Oh have you seen my dear companion




Oh have you seen my dear companion
For he was all this world to me

Overall Meaning

"My Dear Companion" is a poignant song about lost love and regret. The singer is searching for a companion who was once everything to her, but has now gone to some far-off country and seems to have forgotten her. The tone of the song is desolate and pensive, but also filled with yearning and hope. The singer wishes she were a swallow so she could fly away to a high and lonesome place and join the wild birds in their crying. She is thinking of her lost love and his sweet face.


The song is a haunting and tender exploration of the pain of lost love and the yearning for companionship. The lyrics are sparse but evocative, capturing the emotions of the singer with a simple yet powerful language. The last two stanzas of the song are particularly heart-wrenching, as the singer contemplates the darkness of the mountain and the cold dark waters into which she will lay to weep.


Overall, "My Dear Companion" is a beautiful and moving song that speaks to the universal experience of lost love and the yearning for companionship.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh have you seen my dear companion
The singer is asking if anyone has seen their beloved.


For he was all this world to me
The person was everything to the singer.


I hear he's gone to some far country
The singer has heard that their beloved has gone to a distant land.


And that he cares no more for me
The artist believes that their beloved no longer has feelings for them.


I wish I were a swallow flying
The artist wishes they could be a bird, flying freely.


I'd fly to a high and lonesome place
If the singer were a bird, they would fly to a lonely and desolate location.


I'd join the wild birds in their crying
The singer would join the birds in their sorrowful cries.


Thinking of you and your sweet face
The artist would think of their beloved and their attractive appearance.


But now the stars have turned against me
The artist thinks that fate has turned against them.


And he cares no more for me
The artist continues to believe that their beloved has lost feelings for them.


Oh when the dark is on the mountain
The singer is talking about when it is nighttime and the darkness has fallen on the mountain.


And all the world has gone to sleep
The artist imagines a time when everyone has gone to sleep.


I will go down to the cold dark waters
The singer contemplates going down to a body of water that is dark and cold.


And there I'll lay me down and weep
The singer will lay down at the body of water and cry.


Oh have you seen my dear companion
The singer repeats their opening question of whether anyone has seen their beloved.


Oh have you seen my dear companion
The artist repeats their question of whether anyone has seen their beloved.


Oh have you seen my dear companion
The artist repeats their question of whether anyone has seen their beloved.


For he was all this world to me
The singer repeats that their beloved was everything in this world to them.




Lyrics © ESTATE OF JEAN RITCHIE PICKOW
Written by: JEAN RITCHIE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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