Willie Moore
Roger McGuinn Lyrics


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Willie Moore was a young man, his age 21 and he courted a damsel fair
Oh, her eyes were as white as a diamond after night and a wavy jet black wore her hair
He courted her by night and day until marriage they did agree
Oh, but when he came to get her parents' consent they said it could never be

She threw herself in Willie Moore's hands as often they've done before
Oh, but little did he think as he left her that night, sweet Annie he would see no more
It was about the 10th of may, a time i remember it well
That very same night little Annie disappeared in a way no tongue can tell

Sweet Annie was loved both far and near, she had friends almost all around
And near a little brook not far from her home the body of sweet Annie were found
Her parents now are left alone, one mourns while the other'n weeps
And near a grassy mound outside the cottage door the body of sweet Annie sleeps





Willie Moore scarcely spoke to his friends they say from the moment they both did part
And his last day was spent near his true lover's grave where he died of a broken heart

Overall Meaning

The song ‘Willie Moore’ by Roger McGuinn and Joan Baez tells the story of a young couple in love, who face opposition from the girl’s parents, and ultimately ends in tragedy. Willie Moore, the singer, is a 21-year-old man who courts a beautiful woman referred to as ‘sweet Annie’. The couple is madly in love, and they agree to get married. However, when Willie goes to ask for the parents' consent, he is turned away. Despite this, they continue to see each other secretly.


One night, ‘sweet Annie’ disappears, and her body is later found near a little brook close to her home. While her parents are left grieving, Willie is consumed by guilt and unable to carry on with his life. In the end, he spends his last days by her grave and dies of a broken heart.


The song's tone is melancholic and mournful, reflecting the tragic end of the young couple's love story. It highlights the challenges faced by young couples in love when families or society do not approve of their union.


Line by Line Meaning

Willie Moore was a young man, his age 21 and he courted a damsel fair
Willie Moore was a young man of the age of 21 who fell in love with a beautiful woman.


Oh, her eyes were as white as a diamond after night and a wavy jet black wore her hair
She had beautiful, sparkling eyes and her hair was a wavy jet black color.


He courted her by night and day until marriage they did agree
He courted her relentlessly day and night until they agreed to get married.


Oh, but when he came to get her parents' consent they said it could never be
Sadly, when Willie asked her parents for permission to marry her, they refused him.


She threw herself in Willie Moore's hands as often they've done before
Annie trusted Willie completely and had put herself in his care many times before.


Oh, but little did he think as he left her that night, sweet Annie he would see no more
As he left Annie that night, Willie had no idea it would be the last time he would ever see her.


It was about the 10th of may, a time i remember it well
The night Annie disappeared was on May 10th, a date that was unforgettable for Willie and for those who loved Annie.


That very same night little Annie disappeared in a way no tongue can tell
On that fateful night, Annie went missing in a way that cannot be explained.


Sweet Annie was loved both far and near, she had friends almost all around
Annie was loved by many, and had friends from all over.


And near a little brook not far from her home the body of sweet Annie were found
Annie's body was found near a small stream close to her home.


Her parents now are left alone, one mourns while the other'n weeps
Annie's parents were left to deal with the immense grief of losing their daughter. One mourns while the other weeps.


And near a grassy mound outside the cottage door the body of sweet Annie sleeps
Annie is buried outside of her family's cottage, near a grassy mound.


Willie Moore scarcely spoke to his friends they say from the moment they both did part
After Annie's disappearance, Willie withdrew from his friends and hardly spoke to them.


And his last day was spent near his true lover's grave where he died of a broken heart
Willie spent his last day near Annie's grave, and ultimately died of a broken heart, unable to overcome his grief.




Lyrics © SHINING SHADOWS MUSIC
Written by: HAPPY TRAUM

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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