George Herbert - Non-Music, Lyric Poem (Literature)
The Forerunners by George Herbert Lyrics
2 Plays
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The harbingers are come. See, see their mark; White is their colour, and behold my head. But must they have my brain? must they dispark Those sparkling notions, which therein were bred? Must dulnesse turn me to a clod? Yet have they left me, Thou art still my God. Good men ye be, to leave me my best room, Ev'n all my heart, and what is lodged there: I passe not, I, what of the rest become, So Thou art still my God, be out of fear. He will be pleased with that dittie; And if I please him, I write fine and wittie. Farewell sweet phrases, lovely metaphors. But will ye leave me thus? when ye before Of stews and brothels onely knew the doores, Then did I wash you with my tears, and more, Brought you to Church well drest and clad; My God must have my best, ev'n all I had. Louely enchanting language, sugar-cane, Hony of roses, whither wilt thou flie? Hath some fond lover tic'd thee to thy bane? And wilt thou leave the Church, and love a stie? Fie, thou wilt soil thy broider'd coat, And hurt thy self, and him that sings the note. Let foolish lovers, if they will love dung, With canvas, not with arras clothe their shame: Let follie speak in her own native tongue. True beautie dwells on high: ours is a flame But borrow'd thence to light us thither. Beautie and beauteous words should go together. Yet if you go, I passe not; take your way: For, Thou art still my God, is all that ye Perhaps with more embellishment can say, Go birds of spring: let winter have his fee, Let a bleak palenesse chalk the doore, So all within be livelier then before.
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Meaning of "The Forerunners" by George Herbert
The lyrics present a stark confrontation between an encroaching spiritual emptiness, personified by the "harbingers," and a resolute faith. The narrator observes the arrival of these figures, noting their "white" color and the chilling effect they have on his mind, asking if they will "dispark / Those sparkling notions." This initial dread is met with a defiant affirmation of God's presence, even as the narrator faces mental diminishment. The core tension lies in this struggle to maintain spiritual devotion amidst an apparent loss of intellectual or creative faculties. The narrator grapples with the potential loss of his "best room," his heart, and the "lovely metaphors" and "sweet phrases" that reside there. He recalls how he once "wash[ed] you with my tears" and brought these linguistic treasures to a sacred space, implying a past devotion where his language served a higher purpose. The fear is that these "enchanting language" will be corrupted, leaving him with nothing but base desires, symbolized by a "stie" and a "dung"-loving folly. A striking craft element is the personification of language itself, which the narrator addresses directly as if it were a companion or a lover. He pleads with "lovely metaphors" and "Hony of roses" not to abandon him for baser pursuits, lamenting that they might "soil thy broider'd coat." This anthropomorphism highlights the narrator's deep connection to his linguistic abilities and his fear of their degradation, contrasting the "true beautie" of divine inspiration with the fleeting allure of worldly temptation. Ultimately, the lyrics find their power in the narrator's unwavering declaration, "Thou art still my God." This refrain acts as an anchor, grounding him even as his mental faculties and eloquent language are threatened. The final lines suggest a profound spiritual renewal, where external "bleak palenesse" on the door signifies a sacrifice that allows for an inner vibrancy, implying that true devotion transcends the superficial trappings of intellect and expression.
This AI-assisted editorial analysis was reviewed, improved, and approved by the LyricsWeb editorial team.
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- George Herbert