Never Will Marry
Tarkio Lyrics
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Down by the sea shore,
And the wind it did whistle,
And the waves they did roar.
I heard some fair maiden
Give a terrible cry,
And it sounded so lonely,
And it swept up so high.
Said William to Molly,
"if you will agree
To give your consent, love,
And marry me.
For my mind is to marry
And never to part.
For the first time I saw you,
You wounded my heart."
"Go away from me William
And leave me alone,
'cause I'm just a poor girl
And a long way from home.
No, I never will marry
Nor be no man's wife.
I'm content to live single
All the days of my life."
"The shoal in the ocean
Will be my death bed,
With the fish in deep water
Swimmin' over my head."
She cast her fair body
In the water so deep
And she closed her bonny-blue eyes,
Forever to sleep.
Tarkio's song "Never Will Marry" is a traditional folk song that tells the story of a young woman who refuses to marry, even if it means living a lonely and difficult life. The singer, walking along the shore, hears a woman's cry and goes on to recount a conversation between two lovers, William and Molly. William declares his love for Molly and asks her to marry him, but Molly refuses, saying she is happy to live a solitary life. The song ends on a tragic note as Molly jumps into the ocean, preferring to die than to marry.
The theme of the song is one of independence, as Molly refuses to be tied down by marriage and prefers to live life on her own terms. It also touches on the idea of sacrifice, as Molly ultimately sacrifices her own life rather than compromise her principles. The lyrics are simple yet poignant, capturing the emotional weight of the story.
The song has roots in traditional Irish and Scottish folk music, and has been recorded by a number of artists over the years, including Pete Seeger and Joan Baez. Tarkio's version is notable for its stripped-down, acoustic sound which highlights the rawness and simplicity of the lyrics. Overall, "Never Will Marry" is a beautiful and haunting song that resonates with listeners across generations.
Line by Line Meaning
One morning I rambled Down by the sea shore, And the wind it did whistle, And the waves they did roar.
The singer was walking by the sea when he heard the sound of the waves and wind in the atmosphere.
I heard some fair maiden Give a terrible cry, And it sounded so lonely, And it swept up so high.
The artist heard a woman's mournful and solitary cry which resonated with a high pitch.
Said William to Molly, 'if you will agree To give your consent, love, And marry me. For my mind is to marry And never to part. For the first time I saw you, You wounded my heart.'
William, the man with a heart wound, proposed to Molly, to which he sought her approval so that they could stay together forever.
'Go away from me William And leave me alone, 'cause I'm just a poor girl And a long way from home. No, I never will marry Nor be no man's wife. I'm content to live single All the days of my life.'
The woman declined William's proposal, citing poverty and distance from her locality. She added that she was happy to be single forever as she never wished to marry or become anyone's wife.
'The shoal in the ocean Will be my death bed, With the fish in deep water Swimmin' over my head.' She cast her fair body In the water so deep And she closed her bonny-blue eyes, Forever to sleep.
The girl said that she would rather die and have the fish swim over her body than to enter into matrimony. She then proceeded to drown, closing her eyes forever in a deep slumber.
Contributed by John J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.