Annabelle Lee
Sarah Jarosz Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Many a year ago
In a kingdom by the sea
There lived a maiden you may know
By the name of Annabelle Lee
No other thought did trouble her mind
But to love and be loved by me

We were children both
In this kingdom by the sea
But we loved with a love that was more than love
I and my Annabelle Lee
With a love that the winged angels high
Coveted her and me

This was the reason long ago
In this kingdom by the sea
A wind blew from a stormy cloud
That took my Annabelle Lee
Then her wicked brothers came
To steal her away from me

They shut her up in a tomb below
This kingdom by the sea
But no maiden's grave could sever my soul
From the love she bore for me
For the moon don't beam without a dream
Of my darling Annabelle Lee

For many years I've wandered
Through this kingdom by the sea
I've laid myself beside the bones
Of my beautiful Annabelle Lee




I'll make my bed near the rising tide
In her tomb by the sounding sea

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Sarah Jarosz's song "Annabelle Lee" are a retelling of Edgar Allan Poe's famous poem of the same name. The song tells the story of a man who was deeply in love with his childhood sweetheart, Annabelle Lee. They had a love that was more than just a normal love. They were soulmates that even the winged angels coveted. One day, a stormy cloud blew in and took Annabelle Lee away. Her wicked brothers came and shut her up in a tomb below in the kingdom by the sea.


The man was devastated and has been wandering through the kingdom by the sea for many years. He finally laid himself beside the bones of Annabelle Lee in her tomb by the sounding sea. He will make his bed near the rising tide and stay there, never to leave the side of his beloved Annabelle Lee, even though death may have separated them. The song is a hauntingly beautiful ode to the love that transcends time and space, and the grief that comes with losing a loved one.


Line by Line Meaning

Many a year ago
The story of Annabelle Lee happened a very long time ago


In a kingdom by the sea
Annabelle Lee lived in a kingdom by the sea


There lived a maiden you may know
Annabelle Lee was a well-known maiden in her kingdom


By the name of Annabelle Lee
Annabelle Lee's name was, in fact, Annabelle Lee


No other thought did trouble her mind
Annabelle Lee only cared about loving and being loved by the artist


But to love and be loved by me
The singer was the one Annabelle Lee loved, and the one who loved her


We were children both
The singer and Annabelle Lee were both children when they fell in love


In this kingdom by the sea
Their love story took place in Annabelle Lee's seaside kingdom


But we loved with a love that was more than love
Their love was more intense and special than the typical love


I and my Annabelle Lee
The artist and Annabelle Lee were in love


With a love that the winged angels high
Their love was so pure and perfect that even angels desired it


Coveted her and me
The angels longed for the love between the artist and Annabelle Lee


This was the reason long ago
The following events occurred due to their special love


In this kingdom by the sea
The events took place in the same kingdom by the sea


A wind blew from a stormy cloud
A strong gust of wind came from a storm cloud


That took my Annabelle Lee
The wind took Annabelle Lee with it


Then her wicked brothers came
Annabelle Lee had some wicked brothers


To steal her away from me
Annabelle Lee's brothers took her away from the singer


They shut her up in a tomb below
Annabelle Lee's brothers placed her body in a tomb underground


This kingdom by the sea
The tomb was located in the same kingdom by the sea


But no maiden's grave could sever my soul
Even though Annabelle Lee was dead, the artist's love for her lived on


From the love she bore for me
The artist still felt Annabelle Lee's love for him


For the moon don't beam without a dream
The moon doesn't shine without a reason or purpose


Of my darling Annabelle Lee
The reason for the moon's shine is the love between the artist and Annabelle Lee


For many years I've wandered
The singer has spent many years wandering around


Through this kingdom by the sea
The singer has spent those years in the same kingdom by the sea


I've laid myself beside the bones
The singer has laid next to Annabelle Lee's remains


Of my beautiful Annabelle Lee
Annabelle Lee was still beautiful to the artist, even in death


I'll make my bed near the rising tide
The artist plans to sleep by the sea, close to Annabelle Lee's tomb


In her tomb by the sounding sea
The singer will sleep near Annabelle Lee's tomb, listening to the sound of the sea




Lyrics Β© Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: CAMERON SCOGGINS, SARAH JAROSZ

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

1888bry

A Visitor from the Past

by Thelen Paulk

I had a dream the other night,
I did not understand
A figure walking through the mist,
with flintlock in his hand

His clothes were torn and dirty;
As he stood their by my bed,
he took off his three cornered hat
And speaking low, he said,

"We fought a revolution
to secure our Liberty
We wrote the Constitution,
as a shield from tyranny

For future generations
this legacy we gave
In this, the land of the free
and the home of the brave

The freedom we secured for you,
we hoped you'd always keep
But tyrants labored endlessly,
while your parents were asleep

Your freedom gone - Your courage lost
You're no more than a slave
In this, the land of the free
and the home of the brave

You buy a permit to travel,
and a permit to own a gun
Permits to start a business
or to build a place for one

On land that you believe you own,
you pay a yearly rent
Although you have no voice in choosing,
how the money's spent

Your children must attend a school,
that does not educate
Your Christian values can't be taught,
according to the State

You read about the current news
in a regulated press
You pay a tax you do not owe,
to please the IRS

Your money is no longer made
of silver or gold
You trade your wealth for paper,
so your life can be controlled

You pay for crimes
that make your nation turn
from God in shame
You've taken Satans number,
as you traded in your name

You've given government control
to those who do you harm,
so they can padlock churches,
and steal the family farm

And keep our country deep in debt,
put men of God in jail,
harass your fellow countrymen
While corrupted courts prevail

Your public servants
don't uphold the solemn oath they swore
Your daughters visit doctors,
so their children won't be born

Your leaders ship artillery
and guns to foreign shores,
and send your sons to slaughter,
to fight other peoples wars

Can you regain your freedom,
for which we fought and died,
or don't you have the courage
or the faith to stand with pride

Are there no more values
for which you would fight to save,
or do you wish your children,
to live in fear and be a slave

Sons of the Republic,
arise and take a stand
Defend the Constitution,
the supreme law of the land

Preserve our great Republic,
and teach each God given right,
and pray to God to keep the torch
of freedom burning bright..."



All comments from YouTube:

Danielle R

This song is more than a song, it’s an entire experience. Sarah has a truly magical voice ❀️

E Miller

Love when these haunting melodies are played in a backdrop of old weathered settings. Reminds one of the timeless nature of music.

Chris Theodoroff

One of the greatest young American singers alive today!

Jim

Amen! I couldn't agree more. She has a voice like an angel. What incredible talent.

Chris Theodoroff

You got that right!

Sharon Mickey

so happy she won 2 grammy's ..it's about time :)

outlander

The way she sings "kingdom by the sea" gives me goosebumps.

Brad Warren

Could You Imagine Edgar Allen Poe hearing this? sitting down and hearing this amazing rendition of his poetry. I think he would be Awestruck.

Sc Parker

two of the most brilliant replies to this comment ive ever seen

Aaron Becker

also music existed when edgar allen poe was alive

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