Fare Thee Well
Marcus Mumford & Punch Brothers Lyrics
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I'd fly up the river to the one I love
Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well
If I met your man, who was long and tall
I'd hit his body like a cannon ball
Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well
Call my name and I'll be gone
Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well
I remember one night, a drizzling rain
Round my heart I felt an achin' pain
Fare thee well, oh honey, fare thee well
When I wore my apron low
Couldn't keep you from my do'
Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well
Now I wear my apron high
Scarcely ever see you passing by
Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well
Now my apron's up to my chin
You pass my door and you won't come in
Fare thee well, oh honey, fare thee well
If I had listened to what my mama said
I'd be at home in my mama's bed
Fare thee well, oh honey, fare thee well
In this song, the singer laments about the challenges of love and how it can lead to heartache and disappointment. The first verse sets the scene with a reference to Noah's dove, known for its ability to find land after a flood. The singer wishes they had wings to fly up the river to be with their loved one. However, the second verse takes a darker turn as the singer imagines a confrontation with their lover's man, whom they would hit like a cannonball. This suggests that there is someone else in the picture who is preventing the singer from being with their loved one.
The third verse is a promise to leave when called, indicating that the singer is ready to move on from this situation. The fourth verse is a memory of a rainy night where the singer felt pain in their heart. The fifth verse seems to suggest that the singer was once able to keep their loved one close but now, in the sixth verse, they lament that they can scarcely see them passing by. The final verse reveals that the singer did not listen to their mother's advice and now regrets it as they say farewell to their honey.
Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on the ups and downs of love and how it can lead to heartache and regret. The imagery of Noah's dove and a cannonball adds a layer of depth to the song and highlights the singer's desire to be with their loved one at any cost.
Line by Line Meaning
If I had wings like Noah's dove
If I had the freedom to fly like Noah's dove, I would travel up the river to be with my loved one.
I'd fly up the river to the one I love
I would fly against the river's current to reach the person I love.
Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well
These are my parting words to my love as I leave to find them.
If I met your man, who was long and tall
If I encountered the man who is with my love, I would fight him with all my might.
I'd hit his body like a cannon ball
I would strike him with a force and power like that of a cannon ball.
One of these days and it won't be long
I will be leaving soon, and it won't be long before I am gone.
Call my name and I'll be gone
If you call out for me, I will have already left.
Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well
I am bidding my final goodbye to my sweetheart.
I remember one night, a drizzling rain
I recall a night when it was raining heavily, and my heart was aching with pain.
Round my heart I felt an achin' pain
There was a physical pain in my chest that reflected the emotional pain I was feeling.
Fare thee well, oh honey, fare thee well
I sadly take my leave from my beloved.
When I wore my apron low
When I was younger and more carefree in my relationship, my apron was worn lower.
Couldn't keep you from my do'
In those days, we were inseparable from each other.
Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well
As I prepare to depart, I say goodbye to my beloved.
Now I wear my apron high
As time has gone by, my sense of responsibility has increased, leading me to wear my apron higher.
Scarcely ever see you passing by
This new sense of responsibility has also led me to spend less time with you.
Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well
This is my final goodbye, as I leave to pursue my new path.
Now my apron's up to my chin
As I have grown older and wiser, I've taken on even more responsibility.
You pass my door and you won't come in
Despite this, you still do not visit me or seek me out in any way.
Fare thee well, oh honey, fare thee well
I must accept this situation as it is and say my final goodbye to my one true love.
If I had listened to what my mama said
If I had taken heed of the advice my mother had given me, I would have avoided much heartache.
I'd be at home in my mama's bed
If I had listened, I would be in a safer, more secure situation.
Fare thee well, oh honey, fare thee well
This is my final goodbye, as I leave to face the consequences of my choices and actions.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Marcus Oliver Johnstone Mumford, T-Bone Burnett, Oscar Isaac
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@joshuabrown3654
If I had wings like Noah's dove
I'd fly the river to the one I love
Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well
Well, I had a man, who was long and tall
He moved his body like a cannon ball
Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well
I remember one evening in the pouring rain
And in my heart was an achin' pain
Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well
Muddy river was muddy and wild
Can't give a bloody for my unborn child
Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well
So show us a bird flying high above
Life ain't worth living without the one you love
Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well
Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well
@JSHayward3
Wish Oscar Isaac wasn't so buried in the mix. Man is pulling some sweet harmony here.
@mf5202
Problem is Mumford sings with some serious volume. Happens quite often.
@matsosa
Well, to be fair, his voice isn’t supposed to be so overpowering. That’s why he was singing low in the first place. Sometimes, to achieve that sweet harmony, you need to be faint. But I do agree that his voice was a little too low. The studio version does the song a better justice🎶🎶❤️
@MindGameStudios
If he'd just been, like, 6 inches closer to the mic...
@jaysakong
yeah unfortunately not much the sound guy can do when theyre singing into the same microphone
@carmencaamano9434
@@mf5202 no, no, no
@louisee7339
Wherever Oscar Isaac is I hope he's warm and well fed. x
@jessiearturothunder8768
I've been soothing my son to this almost every night since he was 15 minutes old he's 15 months old and the second he hears this he put his head on my lap he and I both love it
@loripatrick4652
What do you get when the Coen Brothers, T Bone Burnett, Oscar Isaac, Mumford & sons and the Punch Brothers come together: Absolute joy. Pure musical joy.
@betsytaylor9929
+Lori Patrick Totally agree! It gets no better than this!