Down By the Salley Gardens
The Whiffenpoofs Lyrics
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she passed the Salley Gardens
on little snow white feet
she bid me take love easy
as the leaves grow on the tree
but I being young and foolish
with her did not agree
my lover and i did go
and to the far horizon
she turned her snow white brown
she bid me take time easy
as the Rrose grows with a thorn
But I being young and foolish
did answer her with scorn
I a feild down by the river
my lover and I did stand
and on my leaning shoulder
she layed her snow white hand
she bid me take life easy
as the grass grows on the weirs
But I was young and foolish,
and now am full of tears
In The Whiffenpoofs's song "Down By the Salley Gardens," the singer reflects on a failed romance that occurred in a natural setting. The singer and his lover meet by chance at the Salley Gardens, a place where many species of willow trees grow. The singer describes his lover's appearance with delicate language, saying that she passes "on little snow white feet." When the singer's lover bids him to "take love easy," as easily as "the leaves grow on the tree," he fails to heed her advice because of his youth and foolishness.
The second stanza of the song sees the singer and his lover leaving the village and traveling to the horizon. As they journey, the lover again encourages the singer to take things easy, this time comparing love to a rose that grows with a thorn. However, the singer answers her with scorn. The third stanza sets the scene of the two sitting by a river. The lover leans on the singer, laying her "snow white hand" on his shoulder as they stand. Then, once again, she advises him to "take life easy," as easily as "the grass grows on the weirs." The singer doesn't heed his lover's advice, and by the end of the song, he is left "full of tears."
Line by Line Meaning
my love and i did meet
I met my lover.
she passed the Salley Gardens
She walked through a garden of willows.
on little snow white feet
She walked gracefully, like a snowflake.
she bid me take love easy
She asked me to take love lightly and not worry.
as the leaves grow on the tree
Just like leaves grow naturally on a tree, love will come naturally.
but I being young and foolish
But I was young and naive.
with her did not agree
I did not agree with her advice.
Far from the peaceful village
We went far from the town.
my lover and i did go
My lover and I went away together.
and to the far horizon
And we went as far as the eye could see.
she turned her snow white brown
Her white skin was tanned by the sun.
she bid me take time easy
She urged me to take my time.
as the Rose grows with a thorn
Just as a rose has its thorns, love can come with its challenges.
did answer her with scorn
I responded rudely to her advice.
I a field down by the river
We went into a field by the water.
my lover and I did stand
We stood next to each other.
and on my leaning shoulder
She leaned on my shoulder.
she layed her snow white hand
She laid her white hand on me.
she bid me take life easy
She asked me to take life lightly.
as the grass grows on the weirs
Just like grass grows by the riverbanks, life grows naturally.
but I was young and foolish,
But I was still inexperienced and naive.
and now am full of tears
Now I am sad and regretful for not listening to my lover's advice.
Contributed by Dominic E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@miserere_mei
So beautiful that it reminds me of the movie “children act”.
Thanks a million!!
@caldwellj
The most amazing a cappella performance I have ever captured. Nathan Calixto never ceases to amaze me.
@1500cracker
Saw these guys just about a week or two ago at my Church. This voice stuck out the most, it truly blew me away. I've seen several live Whiffenpoof performances, and I must tell you, this is one of the most beautiful renditions I have ever heard.
@josephsharkey5913
Yale has unlocked wonderful music here.
@708uvr
When he sang this in concert last September in Bedford, NY, I saw jaws literally drop. It was that good.
@pacboychoir
Our boys loved watching this in class! Well sung.
@socratesrazo
I actually hugged the crap out of that guy in a totally bromantic way after a Whiffenpoofs concert at my college. True Story.
@StarFyreSong
This slays me. I get goosebumps every time I watch this (which is a lot). I particularly love the last verse, & the way Nathan sings the word "laid". I hope this guy has a CD somewhere, but if not, I'd love to buy/download this version somehow. This is perfection.
@caldwellj
+WillOTheWisp Available on album: http://whiffenpoofs.bandcamp.com/album/the-invention-of-a-cappella-and-other-modest-accomplishments
@StarFyreSong
+Jim Caldwell Thanks, Jim. I'd already checked it out. The recording, while great, doesn't even begin to match the magic that's in this video. :)