Whither away so fast?

Song Meaning

This lyric paints a picture of a frantic, almost desperate pursuit, driven by a singular focus. The repeated question, "Whither away so fast?", immediately establishes a tone of urgency and confusion. The speaker addresses a "dearest dear darling" and "true love," suggesting an intimate relationship, yet the beloved is fleeing "alone so fast away." This creates an immediate tension: why is this loved one running, and why from the speaker? The core of the piece lies in the speaker's escalating attempts to halt the flight and understand the reason behind it. The phrases "What haste I say, what haste" and "Think not thus away to 'scape all alone without me" reveal the speaker's possessiveness and inability to accept abandonment. The repeated "I come, I come, lo I come" acts as a relentless advance, a promise of inevitable capture that underscores the speaker's determination, bordering on obsession. The most striking aspect is the shift in the speaker's tone as the pursuit progresses. Initially pleading and questioning, the speaker then becomes more forceful, even threatening: "away, hence, away / Away, or I catch, I catch." This escalates into a mockingly tender, yet still controlling, observation of the beloved's distress: "What faint you, of your sweet feet forsaken?" The repetition of "Well overtaken" and the final "pretty maid" reveal a chilling sense of triumph that feels less like reunion and more like capture, highlighting a disturbing power dynamic. Ultimately, the lyrics resonate through this unsettling portrayal of pursuit and capture. The relentless rhythm and the speaker's unwavering focus on catching the fleeing beloved, despite their apparent distress, create a palpable sense of unease. The effectiveness comes from how the simple, repetitive language and the escalating actions build a narrative of control and possession, leaving the listener to ponder the true nature of this "true love."