They released their first album, Weave & Spin in 2011, and their second, Mayday, in 2013. Their third album, Cycle, was released in October 2016
The False Young Man
Lady Maisery Lyrics
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And chat for a while with me
For it's been three quarters of a long year or more
Since you spoke one word to me
Oh I can't come in, I won't sit down
For I haven't a moment's time
Since you are engaged to another true love
When you were mine, my own true love
And your head lay on my breast
You could make me believe by the falling of your arm
That the sun rose up in the west
For there's many a star that jangles in the west
And many the leaves do blow
And many is the damn that will light upon a man
For treating a young girl so
The False Young Man by Lady Maisery is a traditional folk song that tells the story of a woman meeting her old lover after a long time apart. The song begins with the woman inviting her former lover to come in and chat, but he declines and explains that he cannot stay because she is now engaged to another. This revelation causes the woman to reminisce about the past when she held a special place in his heart, and his touch could make her believe the most improbable things, like the sun rising in the west. She also warns him that there will be consequences for the way he treated her like a young girl.
The False Young Man is a ballad that tells a timeless story of love, heartbreak, and moving on. It speaks to the universality of these experiences and how they can resonate across different cultures and time periods. The song also highlights the power dynamics at play in romantic relationships, where one person can hold all the power and use it to exploit and hurt the other. Overall, the False Young Man is a poignant reminder of the consequences of our actions and the importance of being honest and true in our relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Come in, come in, my old true love
The singer invites their former lover to enter and engage in conversation.
And chat for a while with me
The singer desires to talk and spend time with their former lover.
For it's been three quarters of a long year or more
The singer has not spoken to their former lover in a considerable amount of time.
Since you spoke one word to me
The former lover has been silent and unresponsive towards the artist.
Oh I can't come in, I won't sit down
The former lover declines the invitation to enter the artist's home.
For I haven't a moment's time
The former lover is busy and cannot spare any time for the singer.
Since you are engaged to another true love
The former lover is currently in a committed relationship with someone else.
And your heart is no longer mine
The former lover no longer holds any romantic feelings towards the artist.
When you were mine, my own true love
The artist reminisces a period when they were in a romantic relationship with their former lover.
And your head lay on my breast
The former lover would rest their head on the artist's chest during moments of intimacy.
You could make me believe by the falling of your arm
The former lover possessed a charming, persuasive ability over the singer.
That the sun rose up in the west
The former lover's charm and persuasion would cause the artist to believe unlikely things to be true.
For there's many a star that jangles in the west
There are many unattainable or impractical things in life.
And many the leaves do blow
Life is chaotic and unpredictable, much like the blowing of leaves.
And many is the damn that will light upon a man
Many consequences and curses befall those who mistreat others.
For treating a young girl so
Specifically, those who mistreat young, vulnerable girls will face negative consequences.
Contributed by Skyler R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.