Seeger's father was Charles Seeger (1886–1979), an important folklorist and musicologist; her mother was Seeger's second wife, Ruth Porter Crawford Ruth Crawford seeger (1901–1953), a modernist composer who was one of the first women to receive a Guggenheim Fellowship. ... (family photo)
One of her brothers is Mike Seeger, and the well-known songwriter Pete Seeger is her half-brother.
One of Peggy Seeger's first recordings was "American Folk Songs for Children" (1955), considered one of her most enduring, and probably the best-selling, collection of children's songs ever recorded.
Together with MacColl, Seeger joined The Critics Group, performing satirical songs in a mixture of theatre, comedy and song. Seeger and MacColl recorded as a duo and as solo artists; MacColl wrote "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" in Seeger's honor.
Love Unbidden
Peggy Seeger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A bird in my hand
I hold you trembling terror bound
Yet I'm at your command
Love new bidden welcome foe
Bird for the wild moment loose your hold
Let me rest awhile
Love any one of those that dare not to claim thee
Hold me 'til my heart beat slow
Wild bird you have tamed me
In Peggy Seeger's song Love Unbidden, the singer is expressing her mixed feelings about love. Love is compared to a bird, which is typically seen as a symbol of freedom, yet when it is in her hand, it is a source of fear and anxiety, and the singer feels as though she is at its mercy. Love is personified as a friend who was "unbidden" and "unwelcome," indicating that it came unexpectedly and without invitation. The contradiction of love being both unwelcome and a friend conveys the complexity of human relationships.
As the song continues, the singer's attitude towards love changes. She refers to love as a "welcome foe," indicating that it can be both a blessing and a curse. She then goes on to address the bird directly, telling it to "loose your hold" and allow her to rest. This suggests that love can be exhausting and overwhelming, and the singer is asking for a moment of respite.
In the final verse, the singer expresses that she is willing to accept love, even if it is not from the person she hoped for. She asks love to hold her until her heart slows down, indicating that it can be a comfort in times of stress. The final line, "wild bird you have tamed me," suggests that while love can be unpredictable and difficult to control, the singer has learned to accept it and finds comfort in its presence.
Line by Line Meaning
Love unbidden unwelcome friend
Love came without warning, and though I was not ready for it, I feel you as a friend.
A bird in my hand
Love is fragile, like a bird in my hands that I must handle with care.
I hold you trembling terror bound
I feel fear and anxiety as loving you is overwhelming and hard to control.
Yet I'm at your command
I'm willing to surrender to love and do whatever it takes to make you happy.
Love new bidden welcome foe
Although I invite love in, it can become my enemy by causing pain and heartbreak.
Bird for the wild moment loose your hold
Love can be free and fleeting like a wild bird that we must let go and enjoy in the moment.
Let me rest awhile
Sometimes I need a break from love to recharge and recover.
Love any one of those that dare not to claim thee
Love can happen to anyone, even those who are scared or hesitant to embrace it.
Hold me 'til my heart beat slow
I want to feel loved and held until my heart is calm and peaceful.
Wild bird you have tamed me
Love can be unpredictable and wild, but it has the power to transform and change us for the better.
Contributed by Asher W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.