☝️ Key Points
- The song tells the story of Mary, a young woman who is abandoned by her father.
- Mary and her child are on their way home and ask for entry, but are denied.
- Mary dies at the door, but her child survives and is brought to her.
- The lyrics emphasize the sadness and grief of the father who lost his daughter.
- The song reminds us of how important it is to be there for each other and help one another.
Interpretation
"Mary of the Wild Moor" is a sad song about a young woman named Mary who is haunted by a wild moor. The lyrics tell the story of Mary, who is on her way home on a cold winter night with her child. She asks her father to open the door, as the child is in danger of dying from the strong winds of the moor.
Unfortunately, her father ignores her cry for help and leaves her outside. The village bells ring, the watchdog howls, and the wind continues to blow over the moor. The next morning, the father finds Mary dead outside the door, but the child is still alive and held tightly in the arms of its deceased mother.
The lyrics describe the sorrow of the old man who has lost his daughter, and he himself dies of grief. The child is taken to its mother and it is said that no one lives there anymore. The cottage where she once was happy is in ruins.
The villagers point to the spot where the willows grew above the door, as a sign that this is where Mary died, once a happy bride of the village, taken by the wind that blew over the wild moor.
This song lyrics express the sadness and suffering of an abandoned woman who was left behind by her own family. It reminds us of the importance of being there for each other and helping one another, especially in difficult times."