For everyone saying that the song is just based on the end of the book, I hate to say it but it's not.
It jumps back and forth a bit but starts off at childhood 'Out on the wiley, windy moors We'd roll and fall in green'. Then progresses through the story of Heathcliff leaving and Cathy when she falls for Edgar, after talking to Nelly of her dream 'Bad dreams in the night.
They told me I was going to lose the fight'. (the fight being trying to keep both Heathcliff and Edgar, which nearly killed her)
The chorus happens at the beginning of the book, but because of the narration it actually happens after the main part of the story (if that makes sense).
Cathy never comes directly to Heathcliff but instead to Lockwood who is staying in her childhood room, after wandering the moors as a ghost for twenty years. Heathcliff was the one who wanted her to appear to him, so he wouldn't be abandoned and soulless, free to join her in death. Though it takes the whole book to tell their story, Heathcliff does actually die soon after she comes to the window as a ghost after having waited twenty years to know that she hadn't just left him in the 'dark abyss'.
'Ooh, it gets dark! It gets lonely,
On the other side from you.' could be both about when she's chosen to marry Edgar (Heathcliff's opposite) and also when they're separated by death.
As for the line 'Cruel Heathcliff, my one dream,
My only master. ' I really like it but in a way it's not true. Though Heathcliff was often the main factor in her choices and she was ruled by her love for him, Cathy was also caught by her desire for society and that's sorta why she chose Edgar. Edgar also became a master to her, not in the same way, but she never could choose between them, even in death (the locks of hair in the locket, buried between them).
Anyway, that was rather long but I felt the need to say it. Love the song, in case I didn't mention that :)
I think Heathcliff was her only master. Yes, she wanted money and good society, but she wanted it for Heathcliff and her. She planned to get Edgar money for them. She never made any choice. She was Heathcliff's and he was hers from the beginning.
I think Heathcliff was her only master. Yes, she wanted money and good society, but she wanted it for Heathcliff and her. She planned to get Edgar money for them. She never made any choice. She was Heathcliff's and he was hers from the beginning.
@BeeAnchor Great analysis. Just some further obervations to shed more light on what was an enchanting, mystical but totally inscrutible song when I first heard it as a naive 9 year old. The 'rolling and falling in green' hints at the sexual passion between Heathcliff and Cathy. This was purposely avoided in the original film because of censorship issues but it is hinted at in the novel. I think it adds another dimension and deeper understanding of their love...
@BeeAnchor Great analysis. Just some further obervations to shed more light on what was an enchanting, mystical but totally inscrutible song when I first heard it as a naive 9 year old. The 'rolling and falling in green' hints at the sexual passion between Heathcliff and Cathy. This was purposely avoided in the original film because of censorship issues but it is hinted at in the novel. I think it adds another dimension and deeper understanding of their love...
major spoilers for book
For everyone saying that the song is just based on the end of the book, I hate to say it but it's not. It jumps back and forth a bit but starts off at childhood 'Out on the wiley, windy moors We'd roll and fall in green'. Then progresses through the story of Heathcliff leaving and Cathy when she falls for Edgar, after talking to Nelly of her dream 'Bad dreams in the night. They told me I was going to lose the fight'. (the fight being trying to keep both Heathcliff and Edgar, which nearly killed her)
The chorus happens at the beginning of the book, but because of the narration it actually happens after the main part of the story (if that makes sense). Cathy never comes directly to Heathcliff but instead to Lockwood who is staying in her childhood room, after wandering the moors as a ghost for twenty years. Heathcliff was the one who wanted her to appear to him, so he wouldn't be abandoned and soulless, free to join her in death. Though it takes the whole book to tell their story, Heathcliff does actually die soon after she comes to the window as a ghost after having waited twenty years to know that she hadn't just left him in the 'dark abyss'. 'Ooh, it gets dark! It gets lonely, On the other side from you.' could be both about when she's chosen to marry Edgar (Heathcliff's opposite) and also when they're separated by death. As for the line 'Cruel Heathcliff, my one dream, My only master. ' I really like it but in a way it's not true. Though Heathcliff was often the main factor in her choices and she was ruled by her love for him, Cathy was also caught by her desire for society and that's sorta why she chose Edgar. Edgar also became a master to her, not in the same way, but she never could choose between them, even in death (the locks of hair in the locket, buried between them).
Anyway, that was rather long but I felt the need to say it. Love the song, in case I didn't mention that :)
I think Heathcliff was her only master. Yes, she wanted money and good society, but she wanted it for Heathcliff and her. She planned to get Edgar money for them. She never made any choice. She was Heathcliff's and he was hers from the beginning.
I think Heathcliff was her only master. Yes, she wanted money and good society, but she wanted it for Heathcliff and her. She planned to get Edgar money for them. She never made any choice. She was Heathcliff's and he was hers from the beginning.
@BeeAnchor Great analysis. Just some further obervations to shed more light on what was an enchanting, mystical but totally inscrutible song when I first heard it as a naive 9 year old. The 'rolling and falling in green' hints at the sexual passion between Heathcliff and Cathy. This was purposely avoided in the original film because of censorship issues but it is hinted at in the novel. I think it adds another dimension and deeper understanding of their love...
@BeeAnchor Great analysis. Just some further obervations to shed more light on what was an enchanting, mystical but totally inscrutible song when I first heard it as a naive 9 year old. The 'rolling and falling in green' hints at the sexual passion between Heathcliff and Cathy. This was purposely avoided in the original film because of censorship issues but it is hinted at in the novel. I think it adds another dimension and deeper understanding of their love...