How Do

Song Meaning

This song presents a curious, almost spectral invitation, beginning with a playful "Heigh ho—who is this?" that quickly shifts into a direct address. The speaker, identifying as "no one but me," urges a "dear" to "say, 'How do?'" and hints at extraordinary gifts and experiences. The tone is simultaneously charming and slightly unsettling, like a beguiling spirit offering a bargain. The central tension lies in the speaker's assertion of their own presence and desirability, questioning "Am I not young and fair?" while promising to reveal "things I'll show to you." This promise culminates in a fantastical image: "The midday sun at midnight?" This suggests an offer of the impossible, a disruption of natural order, presented with an almost childlike wonder that belies a potentially deeper, more mysterious intent. The craft here is in the repetition of the "Heigh ho" and the plea to "say, 'How do?'" which creates a rhythmic, almost hypnotic effect. The contrast between the gentle "stroke as gentle as a feather" and the impossible "midday sun at midnight" highlights the duality of the speaker's offer – it's both soft and alluring, yet fundamentally unnatural and perhaps even dangerous. The final lines, "Fair maid, white and red / Comb you smooth and stroke your head," bring the focus back to a more intimate, almost grooming-like gesture, reinforcing the strange intimacy of the encounter. What makes these lyrics so effective is their ability to evoke a sense of uncanny allure. The speaker isn't overtly threatening, but the promises are so outlandish and the tone so insistent that it creates a compelling unease. It’s the feeling of being drawn into something extraordinary, something that might be beautiful or might be a trap, all conveyed through simple, almost nursery-rhyme-like language that masks a deeper mystery.