I Loved a Lass
Ewan MacColl & Peggy Seeger Lyrics
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I hated a' ithers that spoke o' her ill.
But noo she's rewarded me weel for my love,
For she's gone tae be wed tae anither.
When I saw my love tae the kirk go
Wi" bride and bride maidens she made a fine sh
And I followed on wi' a hairt fu' o' woe
For she's gone tae be wed tae anither.
When I saw my love sit doon tae dine
I sat doon beside her and poured oot the wine
And I drank tae the lassie that should hae been
But she's gone tae be 'wed tae anither.
The men o' yon forest they askit o' me
How many strawberries grow in the saut sea?
I answered them back wi' a tear in my e'e
How many ships sail in the forest'?
O dig me a grave and dig it sae deep
And cover it owre wi' flooers sae sweet
And I will lie doon there and tak' a lang sleep.
And maybe in time I'll forget her.
In Ewan MacColl & Peggy Seeger's song "I Loved a Lass," the lyrics paint a poignant tale of unrequited love and heartbreak. The singer expresses deep affection for a lass, emphasizing the intensity of his love by stating that he despised anyone who spoke ill of her. However, despite his unwavering love, the lass has chosen to marry another man, which shatters the singer's world.
As the narrative continues, the singer watches his beloved lass proceed to the church with her bridal party, symbolizing her commitment to someone else. The mention of the bride maidens and the fine show they present only adds to the singer's anguish as he follows behind, consumed by sorrow and regret over the loss of his love.
The scene at the dining table further conveys the singer's torment as he sits beside his love, pouring out wine in a bitter toast to the lassie who should have been his. The act reflects his inability to come to terms with the reality of her marriage to another man, highlighting the deep emotional turmoil he is experiencing.
The final stanza of the song introduces a conversation with the men of the forest who pose a riddle about strawberries growing in the salt sea and ships sailing in the forest. The singer's tearful response conveys his inner turmoil and confusion, mirroring the impossibility of his situation. The desperation in his plea to be buried and forgotten signifies the depth of his heartache and the hope that time may eventually heal the wounds left by lost love. The song overall captures the universal themes of unrequited love, heartbreak, and the struggle to come to terms with the pain of losing someone dear.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TERRY COX, BERT JANSCH, JACQUI MCSHEE, JOHN RENBOURN, DANNY THOMPSON, PD TRADITIONAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
18AnniCheppalle
I once loved a lass and I loved her so well
I hated all others that spoke of her ill
But now, she's rewarded me well for my love
For she's gone to be wed to another
..
When I saw my love go through the church doors
With bride and bridesmaiden, they made a fine show
And I followed along with my heart full of woe
For now she is wed to another
..
When I saw my love a-sit down to dine
I sat down beside her and I poured out the wine
And I drank to the lass that should have been mine
But now she is wed to another
..
The men of yon forest, they ask it of me
"How many strawberries grow in the salt sea?"
And I ask of them back with a tear in my eye
"How many ships sail in the forest?"
..
So, dig me a grave and dig it so deep
And cover it over with flowers so sweet
And I'll turn in for to take a long sleep
And maybe in time I'll forget her
..
So, they dug him a grave and they dug it so deep
And covered it over with flowers so sweet
And he's turned in for to take a long sleep
And maybe by now he's forgotten.
..
18AnniCheppalle
I once loved a lass and I loved her so well
I hated all others that spoke of her ill
But now, she's rewarded me well for my love
For she's gone to be wed to another
..
When I saw my love go through the church doors
With bride and bridesmaiden, they made a fine show
And I followed along with my heart full of woe
For now she is wed to another
..
When I saw my love a-sit down to dine
I sat down beside her and I poured out the wine
And I drank to the lass that should have been mine
But now she is wed to another
..
The men of yon forest, they ask it of me
"How many strawberries grow in the salt sea?"
And I ask of them back with a tear in my eye
"How many ships sail in the forest?"
..
So, dig me a grave and dig it so deep
And cover it over with flowers so sweet
And I'll turn in for to take a long sleep
And maybe in time I'll forget her
..
So, they dug him a grave and they dug it so deep
And covered it over with flowers so sweet
And he's turned in for to take a long sleep
And maybe by now he's forgotten.
..
Abb4
He sings this so beautifully and simply.
Arkybark
I love the brisk, outwardly unemotional way Ewan sings this, even if it may be a bit flippant for the subject matter. Most of the other interpretations are too maudlin for my taste.
Alex Morris
Great song ,,,some man ,,,,traditional music at its best,
Brandulph Christophersen
Great... just GREAT!
vincent insomnicide
pure beauty.
sandra morey
Just a simple lost love song, done so well by Ewan MacColl. Later Bob Dylan put new words about the bombing of the church in Birmingham Ala where little girls died. Birmingham Sunday..
Weez L
I love this song :'( x (I hope so! )
Jennifer Zoller
🌸🌸🌸💓 MAGIC 💓🌸🌸🌸
( I still love you..........)
Feras Harbi
Outlander vibes.