Song Meaning
The lyrics paint a picture of love as something initially vibrant and almost childlike, full of unbridled energy and a playful disregard for unseen dangers. This love is described with striking imagery: "a child / Upon a rockin' horse," a figure of "black" moving through a "forest of dreams and laughs." It possesses a wild, untamed quality, seemingly unaware of or unconcerned with any potential harm lurking beneath the surface.
However, this initial intensity is fleeting, mirroring the "ageing of a child at play." The narrator observes this love becoming "broken and fades away," a stark contrast to its earlier robustness. The consequence of this decay is that its remnants, like "seeds / That burn in the hearts," are scattered, affecting others who encounter it. This suggests a love that, in its decline, leaves a lasting, perhaps painful, impression on those it touches.
The shift in the third stanza introduces a new perspective, one of awakening and potential renewal. The dawn brings a sense of troubles vanishing, and the narrator is urged to "love only life as it grows." There's a cautious optimism, a call to trust the natural progression of things, but with a pointed exception: "not the red, red rose." This specific warning hints at a particular kind of beauty or passion that might be deceptive or lead to heartbreak, a lesson learned from the earlier experience.
Ultimately, the song concludes with an exhortation to embrace freedom and joy: "Spread your wings and fly, my love / Dance upon the clouds above." The final command, "Harvest your thoughts of love," suggests a process of reflection and perhaps selective preservation. It implies gathering the valuable lessons and positive memories from past experiences while letting go of what proved harmful, culminating in a more mature and self-aware approach to love.
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