Of joys and pleasing pains

Song Meaning

The narrator begins by recounting a period of joyful, albeit bittersweet, experiences, characterized by a paradoxical "sweet bitter stinging." They were so caught up in this intense emotional state that they didn't anticipate future regret. This initial phase is described with a sense of active, almost performative, engagement: "late went singing" and "O joys with pains!" The immediate aftermath, however, is one of profound sorrow and regret, a stark contrast to the earlier, complex feelings.