Wylie Gustafson is a real Eastern Washington cowboy - raised in Montana, he… Read Full Bio ↴Wylie Gustafson is a real Eastern Washington cowboy - raised in Montana, he runs a ranch in Dusty, Washington (actually his wife's family's ranch) when he's not on the road. This guy can yodel, for sure, but he also sings cowboy and western standards and ballads, some old, some new, some original. The Wild West is a simple three-piece backup band, with Ray Doyle, an Irishman from Southern California, playing several different instruments from mandolin to bass guitar. The band plays often in and around Seattle.

Wylie IS the "Ya-hoo-oo" for Yahoo.com, which is a story in itself. (Google "Wylie Yahoo" to find out more). Wylie has been known to insert a reference to this incident in his original signature (and semi-autobiographical) song "Yodeling Fool".

The Wylie and the Wild West website includes bios, discography, CDs, tour dates, booking info, sound and video clips, photos, and more.

Marie
Wylie & The Wild West Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Wylie Gustafson (Two Medicine Music, BMI)

I loved a girl, her name was Marie

But the hand of God took her from me

Down by the river in her favorite dress

Down by the river I laid her to rest

Marie , Marie the wind calls her name

What I wouldn't give to hold her again

In the little old shack that once was our home

In the little old shack where I wait alone

The days pass by so empty and slow

I try but I can't let her go

Down to the river with a rope in my hand

Down to the river where the cottonwood stands

Way up high I tie the knot to the bough

Dear God, my God, take me to her now

Overall Meaning

In the poignant song "Marie" by Wylie & The Wild West, the singer reflects on a lost love, Marie, who was taken from him by the hand of God. This heart-wrenching loss is symbolized by the somber scene of laying her to rest by the river, a place that held special memories for the couple. The mention of Marie's favorite dress adds a touch of personal detail, emphasizing the intimacy and closeness they shared.

The repetition of Marie's name throughout the song, along with the haunting imagery of the wind calling out to her, conveys the deep yearning and longing the singer feels for her presence once again. The desire to hold her again is a powerful emotion that permeates the lyrics, highlighting the enduring love and connection the singer still feels for Marie, despite her physical absence.

The mention of their old shack, which was once filled with love and warmth, now stands as a stark reminder of the emptiness and loneliness the singer experiences after Marie's departure. The sense of waiting alone in the shack further amplifies the sense of loss and longing that permeates the song, as the days pass by slowly and painfully for the singer.

The final verses of the song take a dark turn as the singer contemplates joining Marie in the afterlife, expressing a sense of desperation and despair. The imagery of going down to the river with a rope in hand, ready to join her where the cottonwood stands, underscores the singer's overwhelming grief and the desire for reunion with his beloved Marie, even if it means transcending the boundaries of earthly existence. The plea to God to take him to her now encapsulates the profound sorrow and longing that defines the emotional core of the song "Marie."

Line by Line Meaning

I loved a girl, her name was Marie
I had deep affection for a girl named Marie

But the hand of God took her from me
Unfortunately, God took her away from me

Down by the river in her favorite dress
By the river, she was in her beloved dress

Down by the river I laid her to rest
I buried her by the river

Marie, Marie the wind calls her name
The wind whispers her name, Marie

What I wouldn't give to hold her again
I would give anything to hold her once more

In the little old shack that once was our home
In the small old shack where we used to live together

In the little old shack where I wait alone
I now wait alone in that same shack

The days pass by so empty and slow
The days go by empty and sluggish

I try but I can't let her go
I attempt, but I can't release her

Down to the river with a rope in my hand
With a rope in hand, I head to the river