On the Cliff

Song Meaning

The lyrics open with a stark, almost desolate scene: a speaker observing sun-baked turf and a flat rock on a cliff. The turf is described as "Dead to the roots," while the rock lies "As an anvil's face," baked dry. There's an immediate sense of barrenness, of life utterly absent from this harsh environment. This initial bleakness sets up a powerful emotional tension, as the following stanzas introduce surprising, vibrant life. On the dead turf, something "sprang gay" — not a cricket, but a fantastical "warhorse, barded and chanfroned too." Similarly, on the barren rock, "two red fans of a butterfly" fall like a drop of fire. The contrast between the lifeless setting and these sudden, almost magical appearances is striking, suggesting an unexpected vitality. The craft here is particularly effective in its use of imaginative imagery and color. The "warhorse" is a gift from a "quixote-mage," a "Real fairy, with wings all right," transforming the mundane into the mythical. The appearance of "wonderful blue and red" on what was an "ugly stead" of turf and rock highlights this dramatic shift. The lyrics move beyond simple observation, imbuing the scene with a sense of enchantment and unexpected grace. Ultimately, these observations serve as a metaphor for human experience. The final stanza asks, "Is it not so / With the minds of men?" suggesting that even the "burnt and bare" aspects of human minds can be touched by a "blue and red grace, not theirs." This implies that beauty, wonder, and perhaps even "Love settling unawares!" can transform even the most desolate internal landscapes, arriving from an external, unexpected source.