High Noon
Tony Baker and his orchestra Lyrics


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Do not forsake me, oh my darlin'
On this, our weddin' day
Do not forsake me, oh my darlin'
Wait, wait along

I do not know what fate awaits me
I only know I must be brave
And I must face a man who hates me
Or lie a coward, a craven coward
Or lie a coward in my grave

Oh, to be torn 'twixt love and duty
S'posin' I lose my fair-haired beauty
Look at that big hand move along
Nearin' high noon

He made a vow while in state prison
Vowed it would be my life or his'n
I'm not afraid of death but oh
What will I do if you leave me?

Do not forsake me, oh my darlin'
You made that promise as a bride
Do not forsake me, oh my darlin'
Although you're grievin', don't think of leavin'
Now that I need you by my side

Wait along, (wait along) wait along




Wait along, wait along
(Wait along, wait along, wait along, wait along)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Tony Baker and his orchestra's song "High Noon" depict a heartfelt plea from the singer to his beloved on their wedding day. The emotional turmoil and uncertainty in the situation are evident as he begs her not to abandon him in this crucial moment. He implores her not to forsake him and to wait patiently, suggesting that they need to stick together despite the challenging circumstances.


The singer admits he does not know what fate will befall him, but he is aware that he must summon bravery and confront a man who holds deep hatred for him. He acknowledges that he could choose the path of a coward and succumb to fear, or he could meet his adversary head-on and potentially meet his end. The contrasting options of bravery and cowardice reflect the internal struggle he faces.


The turmoil deepens as the singer ponders the conflict between his love for his fair-haired beauty and his duty to face his enemy. He contemplates the potential loss of his love and the consequences of his choices. The lyrics capture the tension of being torn between personal happiness and fulfilling one's obligations.


The song conveys the seriousness and urgency of the situation as the singer observes the moving clock hands, inching closer to high noon. This symbolizes the impending confrontation and heightens the tension of the narrative. The urgency amplifies the suspense and adds a sense of impending doom.


The final verse reveals a chilling truth: the singer's enemy, while in state prison, swore that either he or the singer would lose their life. The singer expresses his lack of fear of death but expresses despair at the possibility of being left alone if his beloved chooses to abandon him in this moment of need. He reminds her of the promise she made as his bride and urges her not to think of leaving him, even in her grief.


Overall, "High Noon" tells a poignant tale of love, duty, and the internal conflict of a man facing a dangerous situation. It explores themes of loyalty, bravery, and the fear of abandonment. The lyrics expertly convey the emotional turmoil and uncertainty that weigh heavily on the singer's heart on this crucial day.


Line by Line Meaning

Do not forsake me, oh my darlin'
Please don't abandon me, my love


On this, our weddin' day
On the day we got married


Wait, wait along
Just wait patiently


I do not know what fate awaits me
I'm uncertain about what destiny has in store for me


I only know I must be brave
But I understand that I need to be courageous


And I must face a man who hates me
I must confront someone who despises me


Or lie a coward, a craven coward
Otherwise, I'll be labeled as a fearful, weak coward


Or lie a coward in my grave
Or live as a coward and face a miserable existence


Oh, to be torn 'twixt love and duty
Oh, the struggle between love and responsibility


S'posin' I lose my fair-haired beauty
What if I lose the person I deeply care about


Look at that big hand move along
Observe the ticking clock as it progresses


Nearin' high noon
Approaching midday


He made a vow while in state prison
He made a promise while incarcerated


Vowed it would be my life or his'n
He swore it would be a life-or-death situation


I'm not afraid of death but oh
I'm not scared of death, but...


What will I do if you leave me?
What will I do if you abandon me?


You made that promise as a bride
You made that commitment when you became my wife


Although you're grievin', don't think of leavin'
Even though you're suffering, please don't consider leaving


Now that I need you by my side
Now that I require your support


Wait along, (wait along) wait along
Just keep waiting


Wait along, wait along
Keep waiting patiently


(Wait along, wait along, wait along, wait along)
(Keep waiting, keep waiting, keep waiting, keep waiting)




Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Songtrust Ave, Shapiro Bernstein & Co Inc, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dimitri Tiomkin, Ned Washington

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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