Oh
Eva Cassidy Lyrics


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Oh, had I a golden thread
And a needle so fine
I, I would weave a magic spell
Of a rainbow design, mm
Of a rainbow design

In it I would weave the courage
Of women giving birth
And in it I would weave the innocence
Of the children of all the earth
Children of all the earth

Want to show my brothers and sisters
My rainbow design
'Cause I would bind up this sorry world
With hand and heart and mind
Oh, hand and heart and mind

Oh, had I a golden thread
And a needle so fine
I would weave a magic spell




Of a rainbow design
Of a rainbow design, hmm

Overall Meaning

In this song, Eva Cassidy talks about the power of a golden thread and a fine needle to weave a magic spell. She imagines herself creating a vibrant tapestry of a rainbow design, incorporating the courage of women giving birth and the innocence of children from different parts of the world. Cassidy wants to share this magical work of art with her brothers and sisters, as she believes it could help to bind up a sorry world, using her hand, heart, and mind. The song is a reflection on the potential for human connection and the importance of inclusivity, kindness, and empathy in building a better world.


The metaphor of the golden thread and the fine needle suggests the fragility and subtlety of human connections, but also their intrinsic value. The magic spell invoked through the weaving refers to a deeper spiritual understanding of how interconnectedness works to create beauty and meaning in the world. At the same time, Cassidy recognizes the challenges we face as a global community and calls for us to rise above adversity by finding commonalities in our shared human experiences.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh, had I a golden thread
The singer wishes they had a special tool to help them create something beautiful.


And a needle so fine
The singer needs a very precise tool to create something beautiful and intricate.


I, I would weave a magic spell
The singer has a desire to create something that will have an enchanting effect on those who see it.


Of a rainbow design, mm
The artist wants their creation to be colorful and vibrant, like a rainbow.


Of a rainbow design
The artist reiterates their desire for their creation to be colorful and vibrant, like a rainbow.


In it I would weave the courage
The singer wants to include the bravery of women giving birth in their creation.


Of women giving birth
The singer admires the strength and bravery that women have while giving birth.


And in it I would weave the innocence
The artist also wants to include the purity and innocence of all children in their creation.


Of the children of all the earth
The artist wants to include the purity and innocence of all children in their creation, regardless of where they come from.


Want to show my brothers and sisters
The artist wants to share their creation with their fellow humans.


My rainbow design
The singer is proud of the colorful creation they have made.


'Cause I would bind up this sorry world
The artist believes that their creation can help to heal the broken and sorrowful world we live in.


With hand and heart and mind
The singer wants to use all of their available resources to create something beautiful and powerful.


Of a rainbow design
The singer reiterates their desire for their creation to be colorful and vibrant, like a rainbow.


Of a rainbow design, hmm
The singer expresses their contentment with the idea of their creation being colorful and vibrant, like a rainbow.




Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Peter Seeger

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@princepeterwolf

Oh, had I a golden thread
And a needle so fine
I'd weave a magic strand
Of rainbow design
Of rainbow design

In it I'd weave the courage
Of women giving birth
In it I'd weave the innocence
Of the children over all the earth
Children of all the earth

Far over the water,
I'd stretch my magic band
To every city,
To every single land
To every land

Show my brothers and my sisters
My rainbow design
Bind up this sorry world
With hand and heart and mind
Hand and heart and mind

Oh, had I a golden thread
And a needle so fine
I'd weave a magic strand
Of rainbow design
Of rainbow design



@charliejervis2747

Oh, Had I A Golden Thread
Pete Seeger
Oh, had I a golden thread
And a needle so fine
I would weave a magic strand
Of rainbow design, of rainbow design
In it I'd weave the bravery
Of women giving birth
And in it I would weave the innocence
Of children of all the earth, children of all the earth
Show my brothers and sisters my rainbow design
I would bind up this sorry world
With hand and my…



All comments from YouTube:

@henryfrost8542

The most beautiful voice in recorded history... 💖

@markdrinkwater1508

That's Aretha, but Eva had a sweet voice.

@wib304

Her voice and interpretations a gift to all of us.

@machinmeawungshi6418

They say this was her favourite song. What an amazing song

@deborraholiveri6202

Yes..that is what I read too...her favorite ..
What an angel ..what perfection.

@ArcofNeptune

I hear the line '...the courage of women giving birth' and I think of my sons - and tears come to my eyes.🥲 Praise God🙏

@shemsuhor8763

Lord have mercy on us all.

@greggary7217

I’ve described this song as, being jazzed into church, having your shoes set on fire 🔥 and then having it put out with cream and honey.

I cannot think of a song that is more stunningly perfect. That may be because every time I hear this I can’t think of anything else for a week, but I don’t think so.

Eva was (and remains) the real deal, the truth. May she Rest In Light.

@MissTina62

MOST BEAUTIFUL VOICE NOW IN HEAVEN. God bless Eva Cassidy.

@ann_jee

All songs are great but this has a special place in my heart coz the notes she hit are phenomenal and almost impossible in this autotuned music industry of today. REst in power,Angel.

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