The Temple Gates

Song Meaning

These lyrics paint a jubilant picture of a wedding celebration, framing the bride's arrival as a sacred, triumphant event. The opening plea to "open the temple gates" immediately elevates the occasion beyond a mere ceremony, suggesting a divine welcome for the beloved. The imagery of "roaring organs" and "joyful anthem" sung by "Choristers" creates a powerful, almost overwhelming sonic landscape, meant to honor the bride's entrance into this new chapter. The central tension lies in the ecstatic, almost unrestrained joy that permeates the scene. The narrator declares, "Never had man more joyfull day then this," emphasizing the profound personal significance of the event. This day is not just happy; it's declared "holy," marking it as eternally special. The instruction to "bring home the triumph of our victory" and "the glory of her gain" frames the marriage as a profound achievement, a win to be celebrated with immense revelry. The most striking craft element is the seamless blending of religious and pagan celebratory imagery. While the initial call is to the "temple gates" and "praises of the Lord," the celebration quickly pivots to "Crown ye God Bacchus with a coronal / And Hymen also crown with wreaths of vine." This fusion suggests that the joy is so immense it transcends any single religious or cultural framework, embracing all sources of revelry. The repeated call to "Pour out the wine without restraint or stay" and the image of walls sweating with wine further amplify this sense of uninhibited, almost Dionysian celebration. This lyrical construction is effective because it captures an overwhelming, all-encompassing happiness. The escalation from sacred organ music to drunken revelry, with the natural world echoing the joy, creates a sense of complete immersion. The narrator isn't just happy; they are ecstatic, seeking to saturate every aspect of their surroundings with the celebration, making the day "holy" through sheer, unadulterated festivity.