Song Meaning

This song paints a vivid picture of urgent, almost desperate, romantic pursuit under the guise of a beautiful morning. The narrator implores their beloved to "come away," emphasizing the fleeting nature of the "golden morning" and the present moment. The initial tone is one of eager anticipation, urging the embrace of "sweet rosy lips" and the "mutual bliss" that comes from mingled souls. It’s a call to seize the day, or rather, the morning, before its potential for pleasure dissolves. The core tension arises from the contrast between the idyllic setting and the underlying urgency, bordering on desperation. The narrator acknowledges past "love's long pain" and "beauty's rude disdain," suggesting a history of unrequited or difficult affection. This past suffering fuels the present plea, making the call to "come away" not just an invitation but a plea to escape lingering heartache and embrace immediate joy. The "golden morning wastes" and the "sun from his spere / His fiery arrows casts," creating a sense of time slipping away and the need for swift action. A particularly striking craft element is the use of contrasting verbs, often presented in short, sharp bursts. We see "Viewing / Rueing" and "Playing / Staying," which juxtapose passive observation or enjoyment with regret or stillness. Later, "Flying / Dying" and "Pleasure / Measure" create a similar dynamic, moving from active pursuit and intense emotion to a more measured, perhaps cautious, approach. This rhythmic pattern underscores the push and pull between desire and hesitation, the swiftness of love's pursuit and the potential for its painful consequences. Ultimately, the lyrics' effectiveness lies in their ability to evoke a potent blend of yearning and sensuality. The imagery of the "golden morning," "rosy lips," and "heav'nly fire" creates an atmosphere of intense romantic possibility. Yet, the subtle hints of past pain and the constant reminder of time's passage imbue the invitation with a poignant urgency. The narrator’s plea to "Haste then sweet love our wished flight" is a powerful encapsulation of this desire to escape sorrow and embrace love before the moment, like the morning, is gone.