Cry of the Wild Goose
Laine Frankie Lyrics
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And I must go where the wild goose goes
Wild goose, brother goose, which is best?
A wandering fool or a heart at rest?
Tonight I heard the wild goose cry
Hanging north in the lonely sky
Tried to sleep, it wasn't no use
[Chorus:]
(Oh, my heart knows what the wild goose knows)
(And I must go where the wild goose goes)
Wild goose, brother goose, which is best?
A wandering fool or a heart at rest?
Woman was kind and true to me
She thinks she loves me, more fool she!
She's got a love that ain't no use
To love a brother of the old wild goose
The cabin is warm and the snow is deep
And I got a woman who lies asleep
She'll wake up tomorrow's dawn
And find, poor critter, that her man is gone
(Oh, my heart knows what the wild goose knows)
(And I must go where the wild goose goes)
(Wild goose, brother goose, which is best?)
(A wandering fool or a heart at rest?)
Let me fly, let me fly, let me fly away
Spring is coming and the ice will break
And I can't linger for a woman's sake
She'll see a shadow pass overhead
And she'll find a feather 'side her bed
"Cry of the Wild Goose" is a song about a man who is torn between his desire for freedom and his love for a woman. He feels a kinship with the wild goose, which symbolizes his longing for the open road and his wanderlust. At the same time, he is deeply attached to the woman who loves him, but he knows that he cannot stay with her because his restless soul will not allow him to settle down.
The song begins with the singer declaring that his heart knows what the wild goose knows, and he must go where the wild goose goes. He is faced with a decision: is it better to be a wandering fool or a heart at rest? The chorus repeats this question and underscores the tension at the heart of the song. The singer loves a woman who is kind and true to him, but he views himself as a brother to the old wild goose. He cannot deny his need to roam and explore, even if it means leaving behind the woman who loves him. The final verse sees the singer preparing to leave his lover, knowing that she will wake up to find him gone. He longs for the freedom to fly away like the wild goose and cannot resist the call of the open road.
Line by Line Meaning
My heart knows what the wild goose knows
My heart knows the inexplicable pull of wanderlust that the wild goose feels.
And I must go where the wild goose goes
My heart is urging me to follow the wild goose, to roam free and explore the unknown.
Wild goose, brother goose, which is best?
Is it better to wander aimlessly like a wild goose or stay rooted in one place like a brother goose?
A wandering fool or a heart at rest?
Is it foolish to have a restless heart, always seeking adventure, or is it better to be content and at peace, like a heart at rest?
Tonight I heard the wild goose cry
I heard the wild goose calling out in the lonely sky, calling to me.
Hanging north in the lonely sky
The wild goose flies north, towards the unknown horizon, never looking back.
Tried to sleep, it wasn't no use
Even though I tried to sleep, my heart wouldn't let me, it was restless and yearning.
Cause I am a brother to the old wild goose
I feel a kinship with the wild goose, I understand its call and I can't ignore it.
(Oh, my heart knows what the wild goose knows)
My heart always knows what the wild goose knows, it is always ready to heed its call.
(And I must go where the wild goose goes)
I am compelled to follow the wild goose, to explore new lands and to seek new adventures.
Woman was kind and true to me
The woman in my life was kind and loyal to me.
She thinks she loves me, more fool she!
She thinks she can love me, but she doesn't know the wildness of my heart, the call of the wild goose that lives within me.
She's got a love that ain't no use
Her love is no use to me, it can't keep me from following the call of the wild goose.
To love a brother of the old wild goose
It's hard to love a restless person, a wanderer, a brother of the wild goose who is always on the move, always seeking.
The cabin is warm and the snow is deep
The cabin is cozy and warm, but my heart is restless, and the snow outside is deep and full of adventure.
And I got a woman who lies asleep
The woman I love is sleeping, but I can't stay, I can't ignore the call of the wild goose
She'll wake up tomorrow's dawn
Tomorrow morning, my love will wake up and find that I am gone, following the call of the wild goose.
And find, poor critter, that her man is gone
She will realize that I am gone, and she may feel abandoned and lost, but I have to follow the call of the wild goose.
Let me fly, let me fly, let me fly away
Let me fly like the wild goose, let me roam free and explore new lands.
Spring is coming and the ice will break
As the seasons change, the ice will melt, and new opportunities for adventure and exploration will arise.
And I can't linger for a woman's sake
I can't stay for the sake of love, I am driven by a deeper force, the call of the wild goose.
She'll see a shadow pass overhead
My lover will see a shadow passing overhead, the shadow of the wild goose, and she will know that I am gone.
And she'll find a feather 'side her bed
She'll find a feather beside her bed, a feather from the wild goose, a symbol of my restless spirit, my need to explore and wander.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TERRY GILKYSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@taofledermaus
They often sung this song on "Our Miss Brooks" and I didn't know it was real song!
@pvelectric
at 8 years old in Ohio, this song came over the radio. It still gives me chills.
@loverofcountry506070
I was four in 1950 when I first heard it. It's been in my head ever since
@catniplovescake
I'm glad to find it as well.🤔😹💫for different reasons..age range..like, I wanna say 9 or so? lol!!! I think it hilarious now tho, sry to say it does crack me up 🦅🦆🦉whut?! there is no goose emoji?! IRL geese are impressive.
@UnknownBlackHand
Found the 'Remembering the '50's' cassette tapes from Reader's Digest in my local thrift shop, this song was among them, and it's awesome. People don't really talk about songs like this anymore.
@wilfriedschuler3796
I do.
One of my beloved songs.
Best regards from Frankfurt
@Loveoldies50
Love this song! I nearly wore out my Uncle Bud's album playing and replaying this song when I was a kid! I love Frankie Laine's voice. And whenever I hear this, I turn up the volume and think back to my Uncle Bud! Thanks for posting this!
@the78prof72
You're most welcome! Glad that you like it.
@williamtell8253
Even today I hear the cry of the wild goose. That's a top hit from the early fifties. Just groovy!
@elliotsoldies9585
This is my go-to hype song I listen to before an XC race