Ribbon Of Darkness
Marty Robbins Lyrics


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Ribbon of darkness over me
Since my true love walked out the door
Tears I never had before
Ribbon of darkness over me

Clouds a-gatherin' o'er my head
That kill the day and hide the sun
That shroud the night when day is done
Ribbon of darkness over me

Rain is falling on the meadow
Where once my love and I did lie
Now she is gone from the meadow
My love goodbye

Ribbon of darkness over me
Where once the world was young as spring
Where flowers did bloom and birds did sing
Ribbon of darkness over me

Here in this cold room lyin'
Don't want to see no one but you
Lord I wish I could be dyin'
To forget you

Oh how I wish your heart could see
How mine just aches and breaks all day




Come on home and take away
This ribbon of darkness over me

Overall Meaning

The song Ribbon of Darkness by Marty Robbins is a melancholic tune about the pain of lost love. The singer is consumed by a ribbon of darkness that appeared since his true love walked out the door, causing him to experience emotions he has never had before - tears. The clouds gathering over his head, killing the day and hiding the sun, shroud the night when the day is done. The singer is weighed down by the darkness that permeates his world, symbolized by the ribbon.


The lyrics detail the singer's pain and loneliness. The rain falls on the meadow where once he and his love were together, but now she is gone, and his love goodbye. The ribbon of darkness persists over him, where once the world was young, flowers bloomed, and birds sang. The singer wishes he could forget his love, to be free from the agony he is experiencing. Instead, he is trapped in a cold room, desperately wishing that his love could understand how much he is hurting and come home to take away the ribbon of darkness.


Overall, Ribbon of Darkness is a beautifully crafted song that captures the pain and emotional turmoil experienced by those suffering from a broken heart.


Line by Line Meaning

Ribbon of darkness over me
I am consumed by a feeling of darkness and despair.


Since my true love walked out the door
The darkness I feel is due to my lover leaving me.


Tears I never had before
My sadness is so great that it has brought me to tears.


Clouds a-gatherin' o'er my head
My troubles are building and weighing on me like storm clouds gathering.


That kill the day and hide the sun
My problems are blocking out the light and joy in my life.


That shroud the night when day is done
My darkness continues even into the night, when I should find peace.


Rain is falling on the meadow
The weather reflects my mood, with rain falling on what was once a place of happiness with my love.


Where once my love and I did lie
I shared a deep connection with my lover in this meadow, but now it is empty and barren.


Now she is gone from the meadow
The memory of my lover lingers in this place, but she is physically gone.


My love goodbye
My lover has left me.


Where once the world was young as spring
I once saw the world as full of beauty, like the renewal of springtime.


Where flowers did bloom and birds did sing
The beauty of the world was seen in the flowers and birds singing around me.


Here in this cold room lyin'
I am stuck in this dark, lonely place with no comfort or warmth.


Don't want to see no one but you
I long for the one person who could bring me comfort and love.


Lord I wish I could be dyin'
My pain is so great that I wish for death to end it.


To forget you
The pain is so intense that I want to forget the person who caused it.


Oh how I wish your heart could see
I long for my lover to understand the depth of my pain and sadness.


How mine just aches and breaks all day
My heart is hurting constantly and is breaking under the weight of my sadness.


Come on home and take away
I need my lover to return and take away this burden of pain that I am carrying.


This ribbon of darkness over me
The darkness and pain that I am experiencing is overwhelming and consuming me completely.




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Gordon Lightfoot

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

oldtomfool

Ribbon of darkness over me
Since my true love walked out the door
Tears I never had before
Ribbon of darkness over me
Clouds a-gatherin' o'er my head
That kill the day and hide the sun
That shroud the night when day is done
Ribbon of darkness over me
Rain is falling on the meadow
Where once my love and I did lie
Now she is gone from the meadow
My love goodbye
Ribbon of darkness over me
Where once the world was young as spring
Where flowers did bloom and birds did sing
Ribbon of darkness over me
Here in this cold room lyin'
Don't want to see no one but you
Lord I wish I could be dyin'
To forget you
Oh how I wish your heart could see
How mine just aches and breaks all day
Come on home and take away
This ribbon of darkness over me.



Chance Lisk

Ribbon of darkness over me
Since my true love walked out the door
Tears I never had before
Ribbon of darkness over me

Clouds a-gatherin' o'er my head
That kill the day and hide the sun
That shroud the night when day is done
Ribbon of darkness over me

Rain is falling on the meadow
Where once my love and I did lie
Now she is gone from the meadow
My love goodbye

Ribbon of darkness over me
Where once the world was young as spring
Where flowers did bloom and birds did sing
Ribbon of darkness over me

Here in this cold room lyin'
Don't want to see no one but you
Lord I wish I could be dyin'
To forget you

Oh how I wish your heart could see
How mine just aches and breaks all day
Come on home and take away
This ribbon of darkness over me

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Gordon Lightfoot



All comments from YouTube:

Steve Tamayo

This song was written by Gordon Lightfoot. That's Grady Martin playing lead guitar. With Marty's voice it made for an outstanding performance.

Jack Chambers

Who did the whistling ?? Classic.

Jim Falkner

with out question one of the greatest singers that ever lived

Fabio B

Can't just listen to this one once, but at least 2 or 3 more times before I can move onto the next song. Times have changed since many of us would have to wait to hear our favorite songs on AM Radio, but now I can spoil myself and listen to it when ever or where ever I want. This song is completely luxurious to the ears. Thank God I'm a Country/Folk Boy!

Derek Emrie

Marty Robbins was the soundtrack for many an imaginary American southwest cowboy movies...I would play them in my mind every time my dad would play his records. What a fine voice he had. Thanks for posting!

washington warui

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Bobbie LaVanway

Loved this gentleman's voice. He is deeply missed, but remembered as now here thanks to people posting his music, and I say "Thank You" for doing so.

William

What a great singer! Beautiful treatment of Gordie Lightfoots classic song

Daniel Burns

this song went to #1 on the country charts in 1965!!!

jayham1970

I never realized that Gordon Lightfoot wrote this song. RIP, GL. You were one helluva songwriter.

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