This Bitter Earth
Nancy Wilson Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

This bitter earth
What fruit it bears
What good is love
That no one shares
And if my life is like the dust
That hides the glow of a rose
What good am I
Heaven only knows

I wanna tell you
This bitter Earth

Can it be so cold
Today you're young
Too soon your old
But while a voice
A voice Within me cries
someone May answer my call




And this bitter earth
May not be so bitter after all

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Nancy Wilson’s song This Bitter Earth explore the bitter realities of life and the unrequited nature of love. She starts the song by referring to the earth and the fruits it bears, and questions the purpose of love if it is not shared by anyone. The following lines reveal how she compares herself to the dust that hides the beauty of a rose, wondering the purpose of her existence. The phrase “heaven only knows” portrays how she is unable to find answers to her despair.


The second stanza of the song brings a more hopeful tone. Wilson's voice introduces this notion of the bitter earth being less painful if someone answers her call. She wonders if it’s possible for things to not be bitterly cold, asking if time can be slowed down or reversed in some way. Though she acknowledges that her wish might be left unanswered, the hope lingers that someone somewhere might answer her cry.


Overall, the lyrics in This Bitter Earth speak to a universal experience. The song is reflective of how temporary life is and how love can be as fleeting or as fickle as the wind. The flip side of the hopelessness is a tender vulnerability that Wilson conveys, demonstrating that even in the bitterness, there can still be a glimmer of hope.


Line by Line Meaning

This bitter earth
The world we live in is filled with bitterness and sorrow


What fruit it bears
Our world produces nothing but sadness and despair


What good is love
Love is meaningless if there's no one to share it with


That no one shares
Love is only valuable if it can be shared with another person


And if my life is like the dust
If my life is worthless and insignificant


That hides the glow of a rose
That covers up the beauty and wonder of life


What good am I
What is the point of me existing?


Heaven only knows
Only God knows the purpose of my life


Can it be so cold
Is life really so cruel and heartless?


Today you're young
We only have a short time to live our lives


Too soon your old
Before we know it, our time is up and we are old


But while a voice
Even if I feel lost and alone


A voice Within me cries
There is still a small part of me that is hopeful


someone May answer my call
I might find someone who can help me through my struggles


And this bitter earth
This harsh and cruel world we live in


May not be so bitter after all
Might become bearable with the support of others




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STEVIE SALAS, STEPHEN L. ALLEN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found