The River in the Pines
Joan Baez Lyrics

Oh, Mary was a maiden
The song starts by introducing a character named Mary who is unmarried and presumably of a younger age.

When the birds began to sing.
This line emphasizes the start of springtime when nature is waking up and beginning anew.

She was sweeter than the blooming rose
Mary is being described as exceptionally beautiful and pure, like a blooming flower in early spring.

So early in the spring.
The timing of Mary's beauty and sweetness is being reiterated and emphasized.

Her thoughts were gay and happy
Mary is being described as carefree and full of joy in this line.

And the morning gay and fine,
This line continues the theme of light-heartedness and highlights the beauty of the morning.

For her lover was a river boy
Mary has a lover who is a boy from the river who she is deeply in love with.

From the river in the pines.
This line establishes the setting of the song as being near a river that is surrounded by pine trees.

Now Charlie, he got married
Charlie is introduced as another character in the story and it is implied that he is in love with someone named Mary (presumably the same Mary as before).

To his Mary in the spring
Charlie and Mary get married during the same season that Mary was first introduced.

When the trees were budding early
This line paints a picture of new growth and natural beauty, reminiscent of the earlier mention of springtime.

But early in the autumn
Autumn is the season of change and the end of growth. This line sets a tone of foreboding and a change in the story.

When the fruit is in the wine,
This line is a reference to the harvest season and can be interpreted as a metaphor for the end of life or love.

I'll return to you, my darling
Charlie is expressing his intention to return to Mary, despite whatever may happen in the meantime.

From the river in the pines.
Once again, the importance of the river and surrounding environment is emphasized as part of the story's setting and tone.

It was early in the morning
The time of day is once again emphasized as important to the events that follow.

In Wisconsin's dreary clime
The story shifts geographically to Wisconsin, which is known for its cold climate and dreariness.

When he rode the fatal rapids
Charlie is riding on a raft on the river and facing a dangerous situation, which could lead to his death.

For that last and fatal time.
This line foreshadows Charlie's eventual demise and the finality of his actions.

They found his body lying
This line confirms Charlie's death and implies that there was a search party looking for him.

On the rocky shore below
Charlie's body was found on the shore, indicating that he died in the water.

Where the silent water ripples
The river is once again described in detail, emphasizing its stillness and quiet nature.

And the whispering cedars blow.
The trees surrounding the river are personified as whispering, implying a haunting quality to the environment.

Now every raft of lumber
This line shifts to the idea of lumber being transported down the river, probably for trade or construction purposes.

That comes down the Chippewa,
The river is specifically named and adds an extra level of detail to the environment and story.

There's a lonely grave that's
The existence of a grave is introduced, implying that someone important died and was buried there.

Visited by drivers on their way
This line suggests that the grave is a common landmark for those who travel down the river regularly.

They plant wild flowers upon it
The drivers who visit the grave place wildflowers on it as a sign of respect and mourning.

In the morning fair and fine.
This line refers back to the earlier emphasis on the morning as a time of beauty and new beginnings, which contrasts with the theme of death and loss established in the previous few lines.

'Tis the grave of two young lovers
The identity of the people buried in the grave is finally revealed, and they are described as young lovers, which connects back to the earlier mention of Charlie and Mary's love for each other.

From the river in the pines.
The final line brings the story full circle and emphasizes the importance of setting in the song, which has been present throughout but becomes especially poignant as the story wraps up.