Song Meaning

The lyrics open with a tender plea to "sad fountains" to cease their flow, immediately establishing a scene of quiet sorrow. This imagery quickly shifts to observing "snowy mountains" gently melting under the sun, setting a natural, almost meditative tone. The focus then narrows to a beloved figure, now peacefully "sleeping." A poignant contrast emerges between the speaker's visible grief, represented by the "weeping" fountains and "sad eyes," and the serene unawareness of the sleeping person. The speaker's "my sun's heavenly eyes" suggests a deep affection, yet this beloved figure "View not your weeping," highlighting a quiet, solitary sorrow that the speaker attempts to soothe, perhaps even for themselves. The repetition of "Softly, now softly lies sleeping" acts as a gentle, almost hypnotic refrain, reinforcing the tranquility the speaker observes and wishes to preserve. This rhythmic emphasis on quiet rest is further deepened by the definition of sleep as "a reconciling" and "a rest that peace begets," elevating it beyond mere unconsciousness to an active, healing state. The lyrics effectively use natural imagery—the "gently waste" of mountains, the sun's cycle of setting and rising "smiling"—to frame the idea of rest as a natural, restorative process. This allows the speaker to gently urge the cessation of tears, not as a denial of grief, but as an acceptance of a peaceful interlude, suggesting that even sorrow can find its quiet, temporary resolution while "she lies sleeping."