The Lowlands Of Holland
Liam Clancy Tommy Makem Family And Friends Lyrics
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The love that I have chosen was to my heart's content.
The salt sea shall be frozen before that I repent.
Repent it I shall never until the day I die
But the lowlands of Holland have parted my love and I.
The very night we got married and lay upon our bed
A pressgang came to my bedside and stood at my bedhead
Saying, Arise arise you new married man and come along with me,
But Holland is a cold place, a place where grows no green
But Holland is a cold place for my love to wander in *
Though money had been so plentiful as leaves grow on the tree
Yet before I'd time to turn myself my love was stolen from me
Be still, be still, my daughter what makes you to lament
Is there ne'er a lad in our town can give your heart content?
There's lads enough in our town but ne'er a one for me
For I never had but one true love and he was pressed from me
*or (It's a wild inhabitation for my true love to be in)
There shall no mantle cross my back, no comb go through my hair
No firelight nor candlelight shall ease my heart's despair
And I will never married be until the day I die
For the lowlands of Holland have parted my love and me
Recorded by Patrick Galvin and (I think) Clancys
Filename[ LOWHOLLD
RG
===DOCUMENT BOUNDARY===
The Lowlands of Holland is a ballad that tells the story of a man who gets taken away from his newly-wed wife by a pressgang to fight in Holland. He sings about never repenting his love for her, and how the lowlands of Holland caused him to be separated from his true love. He describes Holland as a cold and wild place, unsuitable for his love to be in. The man's daughter tries to console him, but he's inconsolable and vows never to marry again until the day he dies.
The song evokes a sense of longing and heartache caused by forced separation. The man's love for his wife is unshakeable, and he's willing to face any challenge to be with her. Even when separated from her, he vows to remain faithful and unmarried. The Lowlands of Holland is also a commentary on the harsh realities of pressgangs – a group of people who would abduct men from the streets and force them into military service by the British Navy.
Line by Line Meaning
The love that I have chosen was to my heart's content.
I am happy with the love that I have chosen.
The salt sea shall be frozen before that I repent.
I will never repent (feel regret or remorse) for my choices in love.
Repent it I shall never until the day I die
I will never regret my choices in love, even until I die.
But the lowlands of Holland have parted my love and I.
My love and I have been separated by the lowlands of Holland.
The very night we got married and lay upon our bed
On the night of our wedding, when we were in bed...
A pressgang came to my bedside and stood at my bedhead
...a group of people came to recruit me (to join the military) and stood at the end of my bed.
Saying, Arise arise you new married man and come along with me,
They told me to get up and come with them, even though I had just gotten married.
To the lowlands of Holland to face your (fight the) enemy.
They wanted me to go to the lowlands of Holland to fight the enemy (in a war).
But Holland is a cold place, a place where grows no green
Holland is a cold and barren place, where nothing grows.
But Holland is a cold place for my love to wander in *
Holland is not a good place for my love to be in.
Though money had been so plentiful as leaves grow on the tree
Even though I had a lot of money...
Yet before I'd time to turn myself my love was stolen from me
...my love was taken away from me before I had a chance to react.
Be still, be still, my daughter what makes you to lament
Calm down, my daughter. Why are you so upset?
Is there ne'er a lad in our town can give your heart content?
Isn't there a boy in our town who can make you happy?
There's lads enough in our town but ne'er a one for me
There are plenty of boys in our town, but none of them are right for me.
For I never had but one true love and he was pressed from me
I only had one true love and he was taken away from me.
*or (It's a wild inhabitation for my true love to be in)
(Alternatively) Holland is a harsh and dangerous place for my true love to be in.
There shall no mantle cross my back, no comb go through my hair
I will not wear nice clothes or groom myself anymore.
No firelight nor candlelight shall ease my heart's despair
Nothing can ease the sadness in my heart.
And I will never married be until the day I die
I will never get married again, even until I die.
For the lowlands of Holland have parted my love and me
My love and I have been separated by the lowlands of Holland.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: J BAIRD, PD TRADITIONAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind