December 27th 1879 by George MacDonald

Song Meaning

The lyrics present a stark contrast between the enduring, omnipresent song of Love and the fleeting, often discordant or absent songs of other human emotions and faculties. If the heart were aligned with this divine Love, the narrator suggests, every moment would be filled with song. This sets up a core tension: the ideal of constant, joyful expression through Love versus the reality of human experience, where other feelings often dominate or fail to produce true music. The narrator meticulously catalogues these lesser "songs." Fear "peers about" silently, Hate and Guile "never try to sing," Pride's speech is a "peacock-screech," and Greed's tones are "grunts." Even seemingly positive forces like Faith, Hope, and Joy struggle; Faith weeps, Hope has an "unripe" throat, and Joy's songs "untimely end." Grief offers only a single, self-abhorrent lament. This detailed deconstruction highlights how these other states are either silent, ugly, or transient, underscoring Love's unique and unwavering musicality. The most striking craft element is the personification and consistent musical metaphor applied to abstract concepts. Love is the only entity that truly "singeth," doing so "everywhere" and "all the time." This relentless singing, even in the face of Sorrow, is what casts out Fear and provides a constant, comforting presence. The lyrics suggest that while other emotions might attempt song, only Love's song is pure, continuous, and divinely inspired, capable of healing and overcoming all. This lyrical construction is effective because it grounds an abstract theological concept—divine Love—in a tangible, sensory experience: music. By contrasting Love's effortless, eternal melody with the broken, silent, or ugly sounds of human failings, the writing creates a powerful emotional resonance. It offers a vision of perfect harmony and peace, attainable through alignment with this singular, singing force, making the narrator's final wish for a "heart were right" a poignant plea for that ultimate state of being.