Garnet lives on a farm in rural Ontario, where his wife raises champion thoroughbreds.
The Painted Pony
Garnet Rogers Lyrics
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Oh draw close and I will tell
Of a young and faithful soldier
And the girl he loved so well
They met 'twas on a frosty morning
In the autumn of the year
They courted all that winter
He brought her lily of the valley
Fine silks and precious things
Their love grew ever sweetly
As the flowers bloom in spring
They would roam the fields together
Laughing breathless as they'd ride
They pledged their love together
Forever side by side
One day there came to them a letter
Her soldier boy was called away
Her face grew as pale as the moonlight
She knew not what to say
She said 'oh love I am so fearful
In some far off field you might die'
He held her tightly and he kissed her
He said 'I'm not afraid' but she knew he lied
Then he smiled and he swung to his saddle
He looked across the fields of green
He said 'I will return love
Though all hell should lie between'
And I'll bring to you a painted pony
And together love we will ride
Across the flowered plains together
Forever, side by side'
'Oh I don't need your painted pony
I lack for nothing love' she cried
'Just come back to me darling
Stay forever at my side'
She stood silently then and watched him
He touched his heels to his horse's side
He cantered past the far horizon
She turned and went inside
One day while waiting at her window
She felt a cloud obscure the sun
Into her heart there came a stillness
She knew her love was gone
'Hard fate hard fate' she cried in anguish
Hard fate has come to me this day'
She withdrew into her chamber
Not another word would say
One night while dreaming on her pillow
She dreamt she heard her lover speak
His soft kiss upon her forehead
His warm hand upon her cheek
She heard a tapping at her window
At the tolling of the bell
She raised her head, she saw him standing
The dear one she loved so well
'Love how came you to my window?
My heart told me you were dead'
He smiled and said 'don't you remember?
Don't you remember what I said?'
He took her to the shadowed courtyard
In the darkness she could hear
The silver jingle of a bridle
He touched her arm and drew her near
'I've brought to you a painted pony'
He said and then the reins he untied
'Oh come leave these earthly sorrows
Love, together we will ride'
A saddle of the finest leather
And a bridle strung with pearls
They wheeled their horses close together
Close together left this world
They rode across the flowered prairie
And the sun rose red above the hills
They rested by a stand of willows
Let the horses drink their fill
Still they ride every night together
When the evening star is bright
The faithful soldier and his lover
Guide their ponies through the starry night
They ride together through the starfields
Laughing breathless as they ride
Chasing down the stars of heaven
The faithful soldier and his bride
The Painted Pony by Garnet Rogers is a charming yet tragic story of two lovers separated by the fortunes of war. The song opens with an invitation from the storyteller to draw close so that he or she can share the tale of a young and faithful soldier and the girl he loves. The couple met on a frosty morning, and after courting throughout the winter, pledged to love each other forever. Their love grew, with the soldier bringing her lily of the valley, fine silks, and other precious things. They enjoyed spending time together and adored their excursions into the fields.
Their happiness was interrupted by a letter informing them that the soldier had been called away, and his life was now in danger in a far-off land. The girl was worried about his safety, but he tried to reassure her with a lie. Before he left, he told his love that he would come back to her with a painted pony, and together they would ride across the flowered plains. She asked him merely to return to her side, but he rode away anyway. She watched him ride off into the distance, feeling heartbroken at the prospect of losing him forever.
The girl waited patiently for his return. One day, she felt a change in the air and knew that her soldier was gone. She cried out in anguish, knowing that she had lost the love of her life. She refused to see anyone and withdrew from the world, living only in her memories of him. Later, she dreamt of a soft kiss upon her forehead and a warm hand upon her cheek. She heard a tapping at her window and saw her lover standing there. Overcome with emotion, she asked how he could have returned. He reminded her of his promise to bring her a painted pony and explained that the couple could escape their earthly sorrows and ride together to another place.
Line by Line Meaning
Draw close to me and hear my story
Come closer and listen to what I have to tell you
Of a young and faithful soldier
About a loyal young soldier
And the girl he loved so well
And the girl he loved deeply
They met 'twas on a frosty morning
They first met on a cold morning
In the autumn of the year
During the fall season
They courted all that winter
They spent the whole winter time in courtship
Until the winds of spring blew clear
Until the arrival of spring
He brought her lily of the valley
He gave her a bunch of lily of the valley flowers
Fine silks and precious things
Luxurious fabrics and valuable items
Their love grew ever sweetly
Their love continually blossomed
As the flowers bloom in spring
Just like the way flowers bloom in the spring season
They would roam the fields together
They often wandered about the fields together
Laughing breathless as they'd ride
Laughing uncontrollably as they rode their horses
They pledged their love together
They made a promise of love to one another
Forever side by side
To stay together for eternity
One day there came to them a letter
Not long after, they received a letter
Her soldier boy was called away
Informing her that her soldier was called to duty
Her face grew as pale as the moonlight
Her face turned pale like moonlight
She knew not what to say
She was lost for words
She said 'oh love I am so fearful
She expressed her fear to him
In some far off field you might die'
That he might die while serving abroad
He held her tightly and he kissed her
He embraced her tightly and kissed her
He said 'I'm not afraid' but she knew he lied
Even though he said he's not afraid, she knew he wasn't being truthful
Then he smiled and he swung to his saddle
Then he gave her a smile and got onto his saddle
He looked across the fields of green
He gazed at the green fields around him
He said 'I will return love
He promised to come back to her
Though all hell should lie between'
No matter the distance or obstacles
And I'll bring to you a painted pony
He will bring her a beautiful horse
And together love we will ride
They will ride together as equals
Oh I don't need your painted pony
She didn't see the need for a horse
I lack for nothing love' she cried
She believed she had everything she needed with him
'Just come back to me darling
She just wanted him to come back to her
Stay forever at my side'
To always be by her side
She stood silently then and watched him
She watched him in silence
He touched his heels to his horse's side
He spurred his horse forward
He cantered past the far horizon
He rode into the distance
She turned and went inside
She turned and went back inside
One day while waiting at her window
One day while waiting by the window
She felt a cloud obscure the sun
A cloud blocked out the sun
Into her heart there came a stillness
A sense of peace enveloped her heart
She knew her love was gone
She knew he was gone forever
'Hard fate hard fate' she cried in anguish
She cried out with pain and grief
Hard fate has come to me this day'
She feels unfortunate on this day
She withdrew into her chamber
She retreated to her room
Not another word would say
She refused to utter another word
One night while dreaming on her pillow
One night, while she was sleeping
She dreamt she heard her lover speak
She had a dream where she heard his voice
His soft kiss upon her forehead
He gently kissed her forehead
His warm hand upon her cheek
He touched her cheek affectionately
She heard a tapping at her window
She heard a knocking at her window
At the tolling of the bell
At the same time as the ringing of the bell
She raised her head, she saw him standing
She lifted her head and saw him standing there
The dear one she loved so well
The one she loved so much
'Love how came you to my window?
She questioned him how he ended up at her window
My heart told me you were dead'
Her assumption was that he had died
He smiled and said 'don't you remember?
He told her to remember
Don't you remember what I said?'
To recall what he had previously said
He took her to the shadowed courtyard
He led her to a hidden courtyard
In the darkness she could hear
In the dimness, she perceived
The silver jingle of a bridle
She heard the sound of a bridle ringing
He touched her arm and drew her near
He touched her arm and pulled her closer
'I've brought to you a painted pony'
He brought her a beautiful horse
He said and then the reins he untied
He told her and then proceeded to undo the reins
'Oh come leave these earthly sorrows
He asked her to come and leave behind her troubles
Love, together we will ride'
They will ride together
A saddle of the finest leather
The horse's saddle was made of excellent quality leather
And a bridle strung with pearls
The horse's bridle was decorated with pearls
They wheeled their horses close together
Their horses moved closer to each other
Close together left this world
They left this world together, closely united
They rode across the flowered prairie
They galloped across the prairie adorned with flowers
And the sun rose red above the hills
As they went, the sun rose red above the hills
They rested by a stand of willows
They took a break by a cluster of willows
Let the horses drink their fill
They allowed their horses to drink as much water as they needed
Still they ride every night together
They still ride every night together
When the evening star is bright
During the nights when the brightest star appears
The faithful soldier and his lover
The dedicated soldier and his sweetheart
Guide their ponies through the starry night
They lead their horses through the star-filled sky
They ride together through the starfields
They gallop together through the celestial fields
Laughing breathless as they ride
Laughing without pause as they ride
Chasing down the stars of heaven
Chasing after the stars of heaven
The faithful soldier and his bride
The honorable soldier and his beloved wife
Contributed by Daniel B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.