Bitter Green (1975 Version)

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a portrait of a woman, known as "Bitter Green," whose life is defined by a perpetual state of waiting. She walks upon "bitter green" hills, her footsteps echoing softly, as she anticipates a "master" to alleviate her sorrow. This initial image establishes a tone of melancholic patience, suggesting a deep-seated yearning for connection or rescue that spans "years." The central tension lies in the contrast between her outward disposition and her inner reality. She is "Loving everyone that she met" while "Walking in the sun," yet the recurring epithet "Bitter Green" implies a hidden sorrow or a difficult nature that belies her sunny exterior. This duality creates a poignant sense of isolation, as she waits "for someone to take her hand" or "take her home," hinting at an unfulfilled desire for belonging. The narrative introduces ambiguity regarding the "master" she awaits. The lyrics offer speculative accounts: he might be a "sailor" lost at sea or a "prisoner" never freed, both figures defined by absence and loss. This uncertainty amplifies the tragedy, as her devotion is directed towards an unknown or perhaps nonexistent entity, leaving her perpetually suspended in a dream of a "kiss." Ultimately, the lyrics suggest a cyclical nature of loss and longing. The "bitter green" disappears, hills turn to "rust," and a "weary stranger" appears, also "Dreaming of a kiss." This final scene, set in "autumn mist" by a churchyard, mirrors the initial imagery of waiting, implying that the woman's fate, or a similar pattern of unrequited devotion, has become a permanent fixture of the landscape, leaving a lingering sense of unresolved sorrow.