With Open Arms
Jane Morgan Lyrics
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Ooh, a-plink a chunk, ooh, ooh
Ooh, a-plink a chunk
I wait with open arms
(A-plink a chunk)
Down by the river
Where the boats comes in
(A-plink a chunk)
And when the boats come in
I run to him with open arms
(A-plink a chunk)
Although he's on the shore
(A-plink a chunk)
His heart is still
A hundred miles at sea
(A-plink a chunk)
But then he kisses me
And I can tell
He's mine once more
All night I hold him tight
He's mine until the dawn
Then when the fishing boats
Go out again he's gone
Gone away and
I pray all through the day
(A-plink a chunk)
That he'll return
And make my life begin
(A-plink a chunk)
And when his boat comes in
I run to him with open arms
(Down by the river)
(Where the boats come in)
All night I hold him tight
He's mine until the dawn
Then when the fishing boats
Go out again he's gone
Gone away and
I pray all through the day
(A-plink a chunk)
That he'll return
And make my life begin
(A-plink a chunk)
And when his boat comes in
I run to him with
(With open arms)
Open
(With open arms)
Arms
Down by the river
Where the boats come in
A-plink a chunk
The song "With Open Arms" by Jane Morgan is a love ballad that conveys the longing and joyful anticipation of a woman waiting for her lover to return home from the sea. The repetition of the phrase "a-plink a chunk" throughout the song creates a rhythmic pattern that mimics the sound of waves crashing against the shore. The singer of the song waits by the river for her lover's boat to arrive, and when it does, she runs to him with open arms, grateful for his safe return. Though the man's heart may be miles away at sea, his kiss reassures her that he is hers once more.
The lyrics use vivid imagery to convey the atmosphere of the scene. The river where the boats come in represents the boundary between the woman's world and the vast, unknown ocean. She waits there with open arms, ostensibly to welcome her lover, but also as a gesture of openness and vulnerability. When he kisses her, she can feel the depth of his affection, and for a fleeting moment, the two are united in their love. The cycle of waiting and parting repeats with the tides, but the woman remains hopeful, praying every day for her lover's return.
Line by Line Meaning
A-plink a chunk, ooh, ooh
The sound effect of something dropping in the water
I wait with open arms
I wait for my loved one to return with an open heart and unreserved love
Down by the river
At the river bank, a place where boats arrive and depart
Where the boats comes in
A place where boats dock and unload their catch
And when the boats come in
Waiting for my loved one's fishing boat to return with the day's catch
I run to him with open arms
As soon as I see him, I embrace him with a warm and loving hug
Although he's on the shore
Even though he's not physically present, his heart is with me
His heart is still
His heart is deeply connected with me and with our love
A hundred miles at sea
Even though he is physically far from me, his love and heart are still with me
But then he kisses me
When he's finally with me, he expresses his love with a warm and passionate kiss
And I can tell
I can sense that he is truly mine and that our love is genuine
He's mine once more
He belongs to me again, and our love is rekindled once more
All night I hold him tight
We spend the entire night in each other's arms, cherishing every moment
He's mine until the dawn
He belongs to me until the morning comes
Then when the fishing boats go out again he's gone
He goes out to sea again to catch fish the next day, leaving me behind
Gone away and
He's left me again, and I must wait for his return
I pray all through the day
I spend my days praying for his safe return
That he'll return
I hope and wish for his safe return
And make my life begin
His return means everything to me as it signifies the start of a new chapter in my life
And when his boat comes in
When his boat finally arrives with a fresh catch, I am overjoyed
Open
Willing to accept him wholly and unconditionally
Arms
A symbol of my genuine love, affection, and care
Contributed by Madison D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@stevesizemore6274
You can't improve on Jane Morgan singing a beautiful and interesting Bacharach song. Excellent post!
@nostalgia6578
You can't miss with a song written by Bacharach and David - in 1959 yet. Beautiful!
@andyconnell1741
I’ve known this typically stylish B&D song since 1960 as the B side of Adam Faith’s ‘How About That’; it's taken me 62 years to locate the Jane Morgan original.
@sstavsky
One of my favorite records. As others have noted, the odd chord progression marks it as a Bacharach song, but it really works. The arrangement is perfect, so atmospheric. And, of course, there's Morgan's vocal.
@jeffmissinne3866
This tune was backed with an excellent version of "I Can't Begin To Tell You." Pop stations preferred this side, "easy listening" stations probably liked the other better.
@jjakiefte2165
Frank Hunter, the uncrowned king of string writing
@countrypaul
This should be schmaltz, but it's surprisingly poignant. I remember this being on the radio, even top 40! It make s sense that this is a Bacharach-David song - several cuts above the norm.
@djkerschner1
My dad let me listen to the radio before I went to sleep when I was 6. I remembered this song, can still sing it...I am 67 now.
@TheStratbuzz
This song has haunted me for 60 years!
@8176morgan
How sweet! ❤