In my opinion, the song is about a man getting duped into giving up his ability to think for himself.
The man starts off free and with the ability to think and to do for himself. (went out one morning, to breathe the air of Thomas Payne) [Thomas Payne is a symbol of free thinking]
While he is free, he see's the attractiveness of religion. (fairest damsel)
Once he is drawn into the religion, he is promised heaven (together we'll fly south).
When he is speaking to the damsel, he is unable to do as he wants.
When Thomas Payne arrives, he see's that the religion has chained him into bondage (releasing her grip) [if you read into this, she is releasing the grasp of the chain that was just placed around his arm].
Thomas Payne is sorry that the man is now unable to think for himself.
In my opinion, the song is about a man getting duped into giving up his ability to think for himself.
The man starts off free and with the ability to think and to do for himself. (went out one morning, to breathe the air of Thomas Payne) [Thomas Payne is a symbol of free thinking] While he is free, he see's the attractiveness of religion. (fairest damsel) Once he is drawn into the religion, he is promised heaven (together we'll fly south). When he is speaking to the damsel, he is unable to do as he wants. When Thomas Payne arrives, he see's that the religion has chained him into bondage (releasing her grip) [if you read into this, she is releasing the grasp of the chain that was just placed around his arm]. Thomas Payne is sorry that the man is now unable to think for himself.