Song Meaning

Buffy Sainte-Marie's rendition of "Lady Margaret" isn't just a folk song; it's a chilling exploration of unrequited desire and its descent into spectral obsession. The opening scene is deceptively simple: Lady Margaret, perched in a position of privilege ("sitting in her high horse"), witnesses the marriage of her beloved, William. The act of casting down her comb and hair signals not just despair, but a renunciation of her former self, a self defined by beauty and perhaps, a certain societal standing that ultimately failed to win her William's affection. This initial rejection fuels the haunting that follows. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of Margaret's transformation from jilted lover to vengeful spirit. Her nocturnal appearance at the couple's bedside is not merely a visitation, but an interrogation, dripping with bitterness. The questions she poses – "How do you like your pillow, young man? Tell me, how do you like your sheet?" – are veiled accusations, probing the intimacy she has been denied. William's responses, seemingly innocent, are laced with a subtle cruelty, emphasizing his contentment with his new bride. This exchange highlights the psychological torment Margaret inflicts upon herself, reliving the sting of rejection through this spectral confrontation. Her request, even in death, is still to be the object of his affection, a twisted, unattainable desire. The final verse delivers the stark reality: Lady Margaret is dead, entombed, her face turned away from the world. This image underscores the ultimate futility of her obsession. Her haunting was not about revenge, but about a desperate, eternal clinging to a love that was never hers. The song's power lies in its portrayal of a woman consumed by unfulfilled longing, a cautionary tale about the destructive nature of unchecked desire and the psychological prison of unrequited love. Sainte-Marie’s interpretation makes the song a powerful meditation on envy, loss, and the lingering shadows of a broken heart.