Sweet Magdeline
Will Hoge Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Here we sit again and tales begin to spin
About the things that we've done and seen
Stories of wine glutton and glory
And the occasional altered dreams

Appetites for memories grow
As the sunshine begins to fade
Across the hill it's the same old chill
Lurking right there in the shade

Just a child with bright eyes and a smile
Laughter was all she knew
Her mama was away and all papa did was pray
So the wanderlust slowly grew

She spread her wings and a couple other things
For the medicine man downtown
With his bottle of elixir he said that he would fix her
And soon she was going down

And everyone begins to look the same
Feel the burn from the same old evil flame
We watched her fall from sweet and kind
And I wish she could come back sweet Magdeline

She was gone on a bad trip
Followed by a needle and a silver spoon
Mama sat and cried and papa told us lies
Said she'd be back real soon

Suddenly the seasons changed
From the fall back to the spring
Answers live like peasants here
When the questions reign as king

And everyone begins to look the same
Feel the burn from the same old evil flame
We watched her fall from sweet and kind
And I wish she could come back sweet Magdeline

Just a child with bright eyes and a smile
Laughter was all she knew
Mama was away and papa sat and prayed
While the wanderlust that slowly grew

She spread her wings and wanted to do things
For the medicine man downtown
And with his bottle of elixir he said that he would fix her
And soon she was, soon she was going down, yeah

And everyone begins to look the same
Feel the burn from the same old evil flame
We watched her fall from sweet and kind
And I wish she could come back




And I will really do is, wish she come back
I wish she could come back sweet Magdeline

Overall Meaning

In Will Hoge's song "Sweet Magdeline," the singer sits with friends reminiscing and sharing their experiences, often involving alcohol or drugs. The song's title character is a young woman who was once full of life and joy, but her wanderlust led her to experiment with drugs, starting with an elixir from a medicine man downtown. As her addiction takes hold, she spirals downward until she is lost to those who loved her. The chorus repeats an emotional plea for Magdeline to return, regretful of the path she took and the loss of her sweet nature.


The song captures the sadness and hopelessness of watching someone you care about fall victim to addiction. The verses reveal the complicated relationship between Magdeline and her family, with her mother often absent and her father seemingly unwilling or unable to help her. The chorus serves as a powerful lament for Magdeline's lost innocence and the destructive power of addiction.


Overall, "Sweet Magdeline" is a poignant reflection on the dangers of drug use and the devastating impact it can have on individuals and families.


Line by Line Meaning

Here we sit again and tales begin to spin
The storytellers are back recounting their adventures


About the things that we've done and seen
Their stories are about their past experiences


Stories of wine glutton and glory
They tell grandiose tales of indulgence and accomplishment


And the occasional altered dreams
They mix in some outlandish fantasies


Appetites for memories grow
They long for more memories to reminisce about


As the sunshine begins to fade
The day is winding down


Across the hill it's the same old chill
The atmosphere is hauntingly familiar


Lurking right there in the shade
The ominous feeling is hiding in plain sight


Just a child with bright eyes and a smile
Magdeline was once a happy kid


Laughter was all she knew
Her life was full of joy and mirth


Her mama was away and all papa did was pray
Her only parent was absent and the other was helpless


So the wanderlust slowly grew
The desire to venture grew over time


She spread her wings and a couple other things
Magdeline experimented with drugs and sex


For the medicine man downtown
She turned to a dubious figure for a fix


With his bottle of elixir he said that he would fix her
The man made promises he couldn't keep


And soon she was going down
Magdeline was on a downward spiral


And everyone begins to look the same
Magdeline's addiction erased her individuality


Feel the burn from the same old evil flame
The addict's struggles are the same across the board


We watched her fall from sweet and kind
Witnessed Magdeline's tragic transformation


And I wish she could come back sweet Magdeline
The storyteller reminisces about the happier times with her


She was gone on a bad trip
Magdeline's drug use led her to a dark place


Followed by a needle and a silver spoon
She began injecting substances with needles and spoons


Mama sat and cried and papa told us lies
Magdeline's parents were in denial about her addiction


Said she'd be back real soon
They falsely believed Magdeline would return to her old self soon


Suddenly the seasons changed
Time went by quickly, caught them off guard


From the fall back to the spring
The year went by in a blur


Answers live like peasants here
Clarification is elusive


When the questions reign as king
Uncertainty prevails


And I will really do is, wish she come back
The storyteller can only long for her return


I wish she could come back sweet Magdeline
The storyteller's wishful thinking persists till the end




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WILL HOGE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions