Loving Hannah
Isobel Campbell Lyrics


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I rove to church last Sunday
My true love passed me by
I knew her mind was changin'
By the rovin' of her eye

By the rovin' of her eye
By the rovin' of her eye
I knew her mind was changin'
By the rovin' of her eye

My love is fair and proper
Her waist is neat and small
And she is quite good lookin'
And that's the best of all

And that's the best of all
And that's the best of all
And she is quite good lookin'
And that's the best of all

Oh, Hannah, loving Hannah
Come give to me your hand
You swore if ever you're married
That I would be the one

That I would be the one
That I would be the one
You swore if ever you're married
That I would be the one

I'll go down to the river
When everyone's asleep
And think of loving Hannah
And then sit down and weep

And then sit down and weep
And then sit down and weep
And think of loving Hannah
And then sit down and weep

I rove to church on Sunday
My true love passed me by
I knew her mind was changin'
By the rovin' of her eyes

By the rovin' of her eyes
By the rovin' of her eyes




I knew her mind was changin'
By the rovin' of her eyes

Overall Meaning

The song "Loving Hannah" by Isobel Campbell is a traditional folk song that tells the story of a man who is in love with a woman named Hannah, but fears that her affections have turned elsewhere. He goes to church on Sunday and sees her, but notices that her eyes are wandering - a sign, he believes, that her mind is changing. Despite this, the man is enamored with Hannah's beauty and hopes to marry her one day. He even recalls a promise Hannah made to him that he would be the one she would marry. However, he is also aware that the situation is not in his favor and feels that his love is unrequited. The song ends with the man going to the river and weeping over his lost love.


The lyrics of "Loving Hannah" depict a classic love story, complete with a heartbreaking twist. The man is painfully aware of the slight chance he has with Hannah, but he still holds out hope for their future together. The song is also a testament to the power of beauty and physical attraction in human relationships. Despite any signs that Hannah's feelings may have changed, the man remains captivated by her good looks and, presumably, by the deeper connection they once shared.


Line by Line Meaning

I rove to church last Sunday
I went to church last Sunday


My true love passed me by
My beloved went past me


I knew her mind was changin'
I was aware that she was having a change of heart


By the rovin' of her eye
I could tell by the way she was looking around


My love is fair and proper
My love is beautiful and virtuous


Her waist is neat and small
She has a slim waist


And she is quite good lookin'
She is very attractive


And that's the best of all
That is the most important thing


Oh, Hannah, loving Hannah
Oh, Hannah, my beloved Hannah


Come give to me your hand
Please give me your hand


You swore if ever you're married
You promised me that if you ever got married


That I would be the one
That I would be the one you would marry


I'll go down to the river
I will go to the river


When everyone's asleep
When everyone is asleep


And think of loving Hannah
And think about how much I love Hannah


And then sit down and weep
And then sit down and cry


By the rovin' of her eyes
I could tell by the way she was looking around




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: TRADITIONAL, CHRISTOPHER JOHN SIMPSON, DOUGLAS WILLIAM MORTER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

kiwicom65

Isobel seems very natural and not so interested in all the hype of the music business game. Lovely voice and good taste in songs. I like the gentle folk elements in her songs which also sound contemporary. "Milk White Sheets" is my favourite album of hers and has often pleasantly lulled me to sleep - especially soothing during the series of 12,000 earthquakes the last few years which has destroyed much of my city, Christchurch, New Zealand.

JoyfullyMarie

Wow, first time I'd heard this song, thanks for posting!

cboston88

So, so melancholy.

CHY -z

i love this song

TheFinalMessage

Cheese is a kind of meat

bnk57

You’re lovable.

9 Ching

No one has such good music, weird