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False Bride
Olivia Chaney Lyrics
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I hated all others who spoke of him ill.
Now he's rewarded me well for my love,
For he's going to be wed to another.
I saw my lover going to the curb door
With his fair maiden he made a fine show.
I followed them with a head full of woe
The bride and the bridegroom sat down to dine
I sat beside down them, poured out the wine
For to drink to a lover that should have been mine
But he's going to be wed to another
The men of the old city they asked of me,
"How many strawberries grow in the salt sea?"
And I answered them with a tear in my eye,
"How many dark ships sail the forest?
Dig me a grave, dig it so deep,
Cover it over with flowers so sweet.
I lay me down for to take a long sleep
And maybe in time I'll forget him.
In Olivia Chaney's song "False Bride", the singer is a woman who has been jilted by her lover. She is deeply hurt by his decision to marry someone else, especially since she had loved him so much and defended him fiercely against anyone who spoke ill of him. Despite her devastation, she cannot help but follow him to the wedding, where she is forced to witness him marry another woman. She even sits beside the couple during their wedding feast, pouring their wine and mourning the love that should have been hers.
The song's haunting melody and mournful lyrics speak to the universal human experience of heartbreak and unrequited love. The lines "I lay me down for to take a long sleep / And maybe in time I'll forget him" are particularly poignant, as they capture the desperation and hopelessness that can accompany a broken heart. The song is a reminder that even in our moments of deepest sadness, we can still find beauty in music and art.
Line by Line Meaning
I loved a lad, I loved him so well
I had strong feelings for a boy and loved him dearly.
I hated all others who spoke of him ill.
I despised anyone who said anything negative about him.
Now he's rewarded me well for my love,
Unfortunately, the reward for my love was being left for someone else.
For he's going to be wed to another.
He has chosen someone else to marry and spend his life with.
I saw my lover going to the curb door
I witnessed my love walking towards the exit.
With his fair maiden he made a fine show.
He seemed to be very happy and proud to be with his new partner.
I followed them with a head full of woe
I trailed behind feeling miserable and sad.
For to see my love wed to another.
Because I couldn't bear to watch him marry someone else.
The bride and the bridegroom sat down to dine
The new couple took their seats to eat.
I sat beside down them, poured out the wine
I sat close to them and served them drinks.
For to drink to a lover that should have been mine
I drank to the man I loved with regret that he was not with me.
But he's going to be wed to another
Once again, I acknowledge that the person I was in love with was marrying another.
The men of the old city they asked of me,
Some individuals from the town inquired of me.
"How many strawberries grow in the salt sea?"
They asked a question that was impossible to answer.
And I answered them with a tear in my eye,
I responded with sadness in my heart.
"How many dark ships sail the forest?
I replied with a question of my own, one that would likely never happen.
Dig me a grave, dig it so deep,
I spoke of being buried deep in the ground.
Cover it over with flowers so sweet.
I wanted the burial site to be adorned with beautiful flowers.
I lay me down for to take a long sleep
I said that I would rest there for a long time.
And maybe in time I'll forget him.
Perhaps in the future I will be able to forget him.
Contributed by Benjamin K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.