In the song, the narrator turns away a potential suitor, as her mother has warned her to avoid the advances of men, in an attempt to spare her daughter the heartbreak that she herself has endured.
Silver Dagger
Martha Tilston Lyrics
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She's sleeping here, right by my side.
And in her right hand, a silver dagger.
She says that I can't be your bride.
All men are false, says my mother.
They tell you wicked, loving lies,
And in the next breath, they'll court another.
My daddy is a handsome devil.
He wears a chain oh five miles long.
From every link a heart does dangle,
Of another maid he's loved and wronged.
So then go home to your own garden.
Ah then go home, rerurn no more.
No other man may come a'courting.
No other man may cross my door.
Oh don't sing lovesongs, coz you'll wake my mother
She's sleeping here, right by my side,
And in her right hand, a silver dagger.
She says that I can't be your bride.
The lyrics of Martha Tilston's song "Silver Dagger" revolve around the traditional southern American folk tale of a young girl forbidden from entering into a romantic relationship by her mother. The first stanza sees the singer warning her lover not to sing love songs as it may wake her sleeping mother who is holding a silver dagger. The mother has warned the daughter of the potential deceitful nature of men, who will tell loving lies and then court another woman. She then goes on to describe her own father as a handsome devil who has wronged and hurt many women, as seen through the hearts hanging from his chain. The mother ultimately forbids the singer from pursuing any other men as she believes all men are untrustworthy.
The song is a haunting and beautiful ballad, filled with melancholy and sadness. The lyrics reveal the emotional pain the singer feels as she is unable to follow her heart due to her mother's warning, which is a timeless theme that has been explored in countless folk tales and stories.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh don't sing lovesongs, you'll wake my mother.
I can't listen to you singing about love because my mother is sleeping right beside me and I don't want her to wake up.
She's sleeping here, right by my side.
My mother is sleeping next to me, and I don't want to disturb her.
And in her right hand, a silver dagger.
My mother is holding a silver dagger, which she uses to show that she doesn't want me to be with you.
She says that I can't be your bride.
My mother doesn't approve of you, and she doesn't want us to get married.
All men are false, says my mother.
My mother believes that all men are deceitful and will lie to women to get what they want.
They tell you wicked, loving lies,
Men will say anything to win a woman's heart, even if they don't mean what they say.
And in the next breath, they'll court another.
Men will pursue multiple women at the same time, without any intention of being faithful.
Oh they'll leave you where the sun does rise.
Men will abandon you without a second thought, and leave you to suffer on your own.
My daddy is a handsome devil.
My father is an attractive man, but he's also a womanizer.
He wears a chain oh five miles long.
My father boasts about the number of women he's been with, and this is symbolized by the long chain he wears.
From every link a heart does dangle,
Each link on my father's chain represents a woman's heart, which he has broken.
Of another maid he's loved and wronged.
My father has loved many women, and hurt them all in some way.
So then go home to your own garden.
You should leave and find someone else to love. I'm not the right person for you.
Ah then go home, rerurn no more.
Don't come back looking for me, because I won't change my mind.
No other man may come a'courting.
I'm not interested in meeting any other men, and I don't want anyone else to try to pursue me.
No other man may cross my door.
I'm closing myself off to love and won't allow any other man to enter my life.
Contributed by Benjamin K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.