Interpretation
In the lyrics of the song 'Gloria' by
Harry Belafonte, it is about a man named Gloria who desperately wants to get married. He is frustrated and desperate because Gloria is trying to avoid him and break her promises. He says, 'You promised to marry me in May, now you're trying to run away, if it's the last thing I have to do, Gloria, my beloved, I beg you to marry me please.'
The singer describes how he felt before he met Gloria. He says, 'I wanted to be a bachelor before I met Gloria. I don't know what she did to me. Some people think I'm crazy. Some say it's the treatment, others say this and that. Some say she's a diplomat. I don't care what the case may be. Come on, darling, let's enter into matrimony.'
Then, the singer reveals that he saw Gloria with another man through a friend. He feels betrayed and insecure. He says, 'You said you love me, but you lied. My friend saw you with another guy. And now you've put me in a state of doubt that you caused. As soon as I turned my back, you ran away, Gloria. Girl, I'm telling you no, and I'm asking you not to forget yourself. A promise to me is more than a debt.'
The singer asks Gloria to marry him and stay with him forever. He expresses his love by saying, 'Gloria is my only girl, my only hope in this world. Give me your hand and say 'Yes'. Come back to me, I'm telling you. I want to have you and hold you until death do us part.'
The song lyrics also include some humorous comparisons to express the intensity of the singer's feelings. He says, 'My stomach boils, I want you like a bad dose of castor oil. I love you like a pig loves a mud puddle.'
Overall, 'Gloria' is about longing for love and the desire for a solid relationship. The singer desperately begs Gloria to become his wife and share his happiness with him.