Shine On Harvest Moon
Rosemary Clooney;Nelson Riddle Orchestra Lyrics

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The night was mighty dark so you could hardly see
For the moon refused to shine
Couple sitting underneath the willow tree
For love, they pined

Little May was kinda 'fraid of darkness
So she says "I guess I'll go."
Boy began to sigh, looked up to the sky

Told the sky his little tale of woe

So shine on
Shine on harvest moon
Up in the sky

I ain't had no lovin' since January, February, June or July

Snow time ain't no time to stay outdoors and spoon
So shine on
Shine on harvest moon for me and my gal

Snow time ain't no time to stay outdoors and spoon

So shine on
Shine on harvest moon for me and my gal

Overall Meaning

The song "Shine on Harvest Moon" by Rosemary Clooney and the Nelson Riddle Orchestra is a love ballad that tells the story of a couple who sit under a willow tree, pining for each other's love. The night is dark, the moon is not shining, and Little May confesses her fear of the darkness. The boy takes the opportunity to tell the sky his tale of woe, expressing how he has not had any love since January, February, June, or July.

The lyrics reflect the feelings of love and longing that are typical of songs from that era. The use of the metaphor of the moon shining on their love represents the hope that their love will only grow stronger. Despite being afraid of the dark, Little May is not hesitant in expressing her love for the boy, and he reciprocates by expressing his heartache to the sky. The lyrics also suggest that they cannot be intimate in the snow, further emphasizing the importance of the harvest moon to them.

Overall, "Shine on Harvest Moon" is a delightful song that paints a picture of an idyllic romantic setting. The lyrics are simple yet effective in conveying the emotions and sentiments of the characters involved.

Line by Line Meaning

The night was mighty dark so you could hardly see
The darkness was overwhelming, making it difficult to see.

For the moon refused to shine
The moonlight was absent, making the darkness even more pronounced.

Couple sitting underneath the willow tree
A pair of lovers found shelter under a willow tree for a moment of intimacy.

For love, they pined
The couple yearned for love and affection that they didn't have but deeply desired.

Little May was kinda 'fraid of darkness
May was scared of the dark.

So she says 'I guess I'll go.'
May had decided to leave due to her fear of darkness.

Boy began to sigh, looked up to the sky
The boy heaved a deep sigh, then gazed at the sky.

Told the sky his little tale of woe
The boy began to open up to the sky, telling it his little emotional story.

So shine on
Let your light shine.

Shine on harvest moon
Let the light of the harvest moon shine.

Up in the sky
High in the sky above us.

I ain't had no lovin' since January, February, June or July
The artist hasn't experienced any love, intimacy or affection since a long time ago, encompassing nearly the whole year so far.

Snow time ain't no time to stay outdoors and spoon
During the winter, it's not advisable to remain in the open and cuddle closely.

So shine on
Let your light shine.

Shine on harvest moon for me and my gal
Let the harvest moon illuminate the two lovers standing here.

Snow time ain't no time to stay outdoors and spoon
During the winter, it's not advisable to remain in the open and cuddle closely.

So shine on
Let your light shine.

Shine on harvest moon for me and my gal
Let the harvest moon illuminate the two lovers standing here.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GERALD CASALE, MARK ALLEN MOTHERSBAUGH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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