The Burial of Love

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a grim picture of Love's demise. We see a personified figure, "His eyes in eclipse," lying still and lifeless. The scene is a somber funeral, a burial for a once vibrant force. Initially, the tone is one of profound grief, detailing Love's stillness and the tears it "hath shed." The command to "Bury him in the cold, cold heart" suggests a chilling finality, a tomb within the very essence of human emotion. However, a fierce defiance quickly emerges, questioning if "truest love" will remain unrevenged against "hollowhearted apathy." This creates a powerful tension between resignation and a burning desire for retribution. The personification of Love as a male figure with a "graceful head" and "bow unstrung" is a central craft element, making its death feel intensely personal and tragic. The shift from mournful lament to a vengeful vow is striking. The speaker challenges the idea that Love's "pleasant wiles" and "innocent joy" could be forgotten, particularly by "the cruellest form of perfect scorn." This rhetorical question sets up the dramatic turn towards a demand for justice. These lyrics are effective because they transform a universal concept into a visceral, dramatic narrative. The initial despair over Love's apparent defeat is powerfully countered by the speaker's refusal to let it die quietly. The final stanza's curse, where nature itself is withheld – "showers shall not fall," "green grass shall not spring" – until "Love have his full revenge," elevates the emotional stakes. It's not merely a personal loss, but a cosmic disruption, making the listener feel the profound injustice and the speaker's unwavering resolve for ultimate vindication.