Would

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a vivid, almost surreal portrait of a beloved subject, described through the extended metaphor of a tree. The narrator observes the subject's physical attributes – their roots, tender branch, naked trunk, and surging stalk – and imbues them with a profound, almost timeless quality. This deep connection is further emphasized by the imagery of leaves cascading through time and a mysterious '?' lending to the distant past, suggesting a history and presence that captivates the narrator. The central tension lies in the narrator's intense longing, explicitly stated in the repeated refrain, "I would that you were mine." This desire is juxtaposed with the subject's apparent detachment or perhaps an inability to reciprocate, hinted at by the line "As you never said thank you or please." The narrator seems to be grappling with an unfulfilled yearning, caught in a state of wishing for a connection that may never materialize. A fascinating linguistic play emerges around the word "would." The narrator finds themselves "lost in the would," a space where conventional logic and future possibilities seem to dissolve into a backward-flowing temporal stream. This "would" is described as "never so gold," suggesting a preciousness found not in concrete reality but in the realm of hypothetical desire and memory. The phrase "can't see the wood for the trees" further complicates this, implying that the overwhelming nature of the subject's presence, or the narrator's fixation, obscures a clearer understanding. Ultimately, the lyrics resonate through their evocative imagery and the raw expression of unrequited desire. The extended tree metaphor allows for a unique exploration of admiration and longing, while the manipulation of "would" creates a dreamlike, introspective space. The power lies in how the narrator's intense, almost obsessive focus on the subject, rendered through these specific, unusual images, makes the ache of "I would that you were mine" feel both deeply personal and strangely universal.