Farewell Farewell

Song Meaning

This track opens with a stark, almost ritualistic pronouncement: "Farewell, farewell to you who would hear." It immediately establishes a tone of finality, directed at "lonely travellers." The imagery of "cold north winds" and the "winding road" suggests a journey into hardship or an inevitable, perhaps bleak, future. The repetition of "farewell" amplifies the sense of departure and loss, setting a somber stage for what follows. The core tension arises from a profound sense of rejection and isolation. The narrator poses a question about returning to see "bruised and beaten sons," implying a past conflict or abandonment. The heartbreaking response, "O I would, I would if welcome I were / For they loathe me every one," reveals a deep-seated pain. This isn't just a simple goodbye; it's a departure born from being ostracized, making the act of leaving a necessity rather than a choice. The most striking element is the contrast between the narrator's past and a proposed future. The cryptic phrases "cut the cloth" and "drink the light" seem to represent commitments or ways of being that the narrator is refusing. The narrator explicitly states, "No I will never cut the cloth / Nor drink the light to be." Instead, a new, solitary vow is made: "But I'll swear a year to he who lies / Asleep alongside of me." This suggests a turning away from former allegiances or societal expectations towards a singular, perhaps even morbid, companionship. Ultimately, the lyrics resonate because they capture a specific kind of bitter farewell. It's not a clean break but one steeped in the pain of being unwanted. The narrator's defiance in rejecting old ways and forging a new, albeit lonely, path creates a powerful emotional arc. The stark language and the direct address to the "lonely travellers" make this a potent expression of alienation and self-determination in the face of rejection.