Mary Wore Her Red Dress
Raffi Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Mary wore her red dress, red dress, red dress
Mary wore her red dress all day long
Mary wore her red hat, red hat, red hat
Mary wore her red hat all day long
Mary wore her red shoes, red shoes, red shoes
Mary wore her red shoes all day long
Mary was a red bird, red bird, red bird
Mary was a red bird all day long




Overall Meaning

At first listening to the song "Mary Wore Her Red Dress" by Raffi, one may quickly dismiss it as just another children's song with simple lyrics and tune. However, upon closer analysis, one would be pleasantly surprised at the layers of meaning and interpretation that can be drawn from the song. The song speaks of a girl named Mary who wore her red dress, hat, and shoes all day long. Moreover, the final line of the song states that "Mary was a red bird all day long."


It's possible to read the song metaphorically and interpret it as a celebration of freedom, individuality and self-expression. Mary, who wears the same color from head to toe, is a symbol of someone celebrating their own uniqueness and refusing to conform to societal norms. The repeated refrain, "all day long" emphasizes that Mary is unapologetically herself at all times, and not just for special occasions or when it's convenient. The line that "Mary was a red bird all day long" may suggest that she was free to be herself and soar like a bird.


Another interpretation of the song may be a celebration of simplicity and contentment. Mary wears the same outfit all day long, which may signify her satisfaction with what she already has. The repeating of the color red may represent passion, vibrancy and joy. By wearing the same color all day long, Mary may be expressing her gratitude for the abundance and fullness of life.


Overall, "Mary Wore Her Red Dress" by Raffi is a song that goes beyond its surface-level simplicity. It has the potential to inspire listeners to embrace their uniqueness, fly high and be content with what they already have.


Line by Line Meaning

Mary wore her red dress, red dress, red dress
Mary proudly donned her crimson gown, repeating its name thrice for emphasis


Mary wore her red dress all day long
Mary loved her red dress so much that she refused to take it off for the entirety of the day


Mary wore her red hat, red hat, red hat
Even atop her head, Mary maintained her color coordination, repeating 'red hat' three times


Mary wore her red hat all day long
In addition to her dress, Mary's red hat also remained on her head throughout the day


Mary wore her red shoes, red shoes, red shoes
Not even her footwear was exempt from Mary's desire for a monochromatic look, resulting in the repetition of 'red shoes'


Mary wore her red shoes all day long
Mary's commitment to her red ensemble was unwavering, refusing to remove even her shoes


Mary was a red bird, red bird, red bird
Mary embodied her color scheme so completely that she was compared to a feathered creature, with repetition emphasizing her redness


Mary was a red bird all day long
Mary's affinity for red was so strong that it consumed her entire persona, resulting in the comparison to a bird of the same hue




Contributed by Nolan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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