Karen Beth is an American folk-rock singer whose album "The Joys of Life" m… Read Full Bio ↴Karen Beth is an American folk-rock singer whose album "The Joys of Life" made the Billboard charts in 1969 and drew comparisons to Joni Mitchell. She released another album, "Harvest" in 1970 and "New Moon Rising" in 1975. Subsequently, she released "The Edge Of The Horizon" in 1983, and "To Each One Of Us" in 1989.

Come December
Karen Beth Lyrics

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Martha the Gypsy and no one knows her name
Her birthday falls on Wednesday and it always is the same
It always is the same

Martha brings you laughter and mouths a song of joy
But once no morning after with she sing songs of the boy
Will she sing songs of the boy

Martha′s come to fields of grass and sunshine and rain
And Martha's come to places where no one knows her name
Where she can blow to dust all the world and games and pain of the world
And games and pain and pain and pain

And the gypsy girl is laughing children knock upon her door
She rides a dappled pony and lies upon the shore
And the city boys bring flowers and lay them at her door
When she comes to you in morning babe don′t close don't shut the door no more
Don't′ close don′t shut the door no more

And the orphan needs a good home to build castles and to play
If you'd rather knock the girl come back another day
They all grow up to be women and they all go on their way

But Martha′s birthday's Wednesday and it always is the same
It always is the same

Overall Meaning

In Karen Beth's song, "Come December," the focus is on a character named Martha the Gypsy, who is a mysterious and enigmatic figure. Though many people in the community are familiar with her, no one knows her true name, and she keeps much of her inner life private. Martha's birthday always falls on a Wednesday, and she seems to evoke a sense of stability and tradition in the subtle repetition of this detail.

The lyrics suggest that Martha has a dual nature, at times bringing joy and laughter to those around her with her infectious musical talents; at other times, she is withdrawn and seems to be mourning a lost love. In both cases, she remains an intriguing figure who is somewhat hard to pin down or understand fully. The lyrics also describe Martha's wanderings as a gypsy, moving through fields of grass and exploring new places where she can be anonymous and free from the pain and chaos of the city.

Despite her ambiguous nature, Martha seems to attract a lot of attention from others. Children come to visit her and she rides a pony, and even city boys bring her flowers as a tribute. The lyrics suggest that Martha is not alone in the world, but rather exists on the outskirts of a community of people who are drawn to her magnetism and enigmatic personality.

Line by Line Meaning

Martha the Gypsy and no one knows her name
A mysterious woman named Martha, who is of gypsy origin, remains unknown to the world.

Her birthday falls on Wednesday and it always is the same
Martha's birthday always falls on a Wednesday, with no variation every year.

It always is the same
Martha's birthday never changes and remains consistent every year.

Martha brings you laughter and mouths a song of joy
Martha has the ability to make people happy and sing cheerful songs.

But once no morning after with she sing songs of the boy
Martha sings sad songs about a lost love, especially at night when there's no prospect of a brighter day.

Will she sing songs of the boy
It's a question whether Martha will sing about her past relationship.

Martha's come to fields of grass and sunshine and rain
Martha finds her way to natural and scenic places where she can relax and enjoy nature.

And Martha's come to places where no one knows her name
Martha likes to visit places where no one is familiar with her identity or history.

Where she can blow to dust all the world and games and pain of the world
Martha craves isolation from the world, trying to escape from the problems and negativity of life.

And games and pain and pain and pain
She wants to be free from the distress and torment of life's circumstances.

And the gypsy girl is laughing children knock upon her door
Martha exudes happiness and positivity, and people, especially children, are attracted to her.

She rides a dappled pony and lies upon the shore
Martha loves coastal areas and likes to ride an aesthetically-pleasing pony to tour around the beach.

And the city boys bring flowers and lay them at her door
Martha is so charming that even people from the city are drawn to her, and they bring her gifts in appreciation.

When she comes to you in morning babe don't close don't shut the door no more
If Martha pays a visit in the morning, one should welcome her instead of shunning her.

Don't close don't shut the door no more
The idea that one should be welcoming to others, rather than isolating oneself.

And the orphan needs a good home to build castles and to play
A child without a family requires a proper home and loving family to grow, play and build their dreams.

If you'd rather knock the girl come back another day
If one is not comfortable with Martha's presence, they can come back another day when they are ready to welcome her.

They all grow up to be women and they all go on their way
All children in the end grow up and will have their own path to follow.

But Martha's birthday's Wednesday and it always is the same
Regardless of their life path, some things, like Martha's birthday, will always remain consistent.

It always is the same
Martha's birthday never deviates from the consistent day of the week.

Writer(s): Karen Beth

Contributed by Sebastian G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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