White Dove
The Stanley Brothers Lyrics

In the deep rolling hills of old Virginia
This is a nostalgic reference to a beloved childhood home in Virginia. The hills are described as 'deep' and 'rolling' which sets the scene for the rest of the song.

There's a place that I love so well
This line emphasizes the emotional attachment to the place in the previous line, and introduces the theme of love as it pertains to this particular landscape.

Where I spent many days of my childhood
The lyricist recounts memories of how they spent a significant amount of their childhood in the Virginia hills, which imbues the place with fondness and familiarity.

In the cabin where we loved to dwell
The specificity of the cabin indicates that it is likely the focus of many memories and served as a sort of 'home base' for the family over the years.

White dove will mourn in sorrow
The 'white dove' is a symbol of peace and purity, and it is used in contrast to the feelings of sadness that the song evokes. This line foreshadows a sense of loss and mourning throughout the rest of the song.

The willows will hang their heads
The imagery of the willow trees hanging their heads is a representation of sorrow and grief, used to further emphasize the sadness expressed in the previous line.

I'll live my life in sorrow
This line is a personal commentary which reflects the impact that the loss of loved ones has on the singer.

Since mother and daddy are dead
The passing of the artist's parents is the source of their sorrow, and it establishes a context for the rest of the song as one of grief and mourning.

We were all so happy there together
This line serves to contrast the present state of sorrow with a previous state of happiness. This also adds to the emotional impact of losing the artist's parents.

In our peaceful little mountain home
This is a descriptive phrase that helps to establish a sense of tranquility and serenity associated with the place that the artist is mourning.

But the Savior needs angels up in heaven
This line frames the death of the singer's parents as a divine event - it is presented as an act of God, and one that has greater purpose than simple human understanding.

Now they sing around the great white throne
This line furthers the image of divine purpose - the parents are described as singing around a 'great white throne,' which is an iconic image of heaven.

As the years roll by I often wonder
This line indicates the passage of time has not dulled the singer's memory of the place and the people they loved who lived there.

If we will all be together someday
This is a hopeful sentiment that serves to temper the overwhelming sense of sadness expressed earlier in the song. The singer yearns for a reunion with their parents, expressing hope that they will all be together again.

And each night as I wander through the graveyard
This line is a poignant image of the singer visiting the graves of their parents, which deepens the sense of loss and sense of finality conveyed throughout the song.

Darkness finds me as I kneel to pray
This image of praying in the darkness serves to illustrate the emotional and spiritual impact of the artist's loss, and the role that faith plays in their coping mechanism.