Cherry Ripe

Song Meaning

This poem paints a picture of a woman's beauty, framing her face as a "garden" where desirable fruits, specifically "cherries," grow. The initial tone is one of idyllic perfection, suggesting a "heav'nly paradise" where "all pleasant fruits do grow." The imagery is lush and inviting, setting up an expectation of accessibility. The central tension arises from the paradox of this abundant "garden." While the fruits are plentiful, they are also guarded and unattainable. The repeated refrain, "Till 'Cherry ripe', themselves do cry," emphasizes that these precious "cherries" – her teeth, implied by the context of laughter – are not for sale or for just anyone. They are only revealed and offered when she chooses, creating a sense of exclusive desirability. The most striking craft element is the extended metaphor of the face as a garden and the teeth as cherries. The description of her teeth as "Of orient pearl a double row" and looking "like rosebuds filled with snow" elevates them beyond mere physical features to precious jewels. This is further amplified by the contrast between their delicate appearance and the "piercing frowns" her brows threaten, which act as "bended bows" ready to "kill / All that approach." This juxtaposition creates a powerful image of beauty that is both alluring and dangerous, protected by a formidable gaze. Ultimately, the lyrics are effective because they transform a simple observation of a woman's smile into a complex portrayal of guarded allure. The poem uses rich, almost divine imagery to describe her features, but grounds it in the very human, and perhaps even slightly coy, act of withholding. The repeated phrase highlights a specific, almost ritualistic, moment of reveal, making the implied beauty and desirability all the more potent for its conditional nature.