--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why does your sword so drip with blood…" description: "\"“Why does your sword so drip with blood, Edward, Edward? Why does your sword so drip with blood? And why so sad are ye, O?' 'O, I have killed my hawk s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bb/anonymous-1_ballad_why-does-your-sword-so-drip-with-blood-e_2018395.jpg" --- # Why does your sword so drip with blood, Edward, Edward?… ![“Why does your sword so drip with blood, Edward, Edward? Why does your sword so drip with blood? And why so sad are ye, O?' 'O, I have killed my hawk so good, Mother, mother: O I have killed my hawk so good: And I had no more but he, O.' 'Your hawk's blood was never so red, Edward, Edward: Your…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bb/anonymous-1_ballad_why-does-your-sword-so-drip-with-blood-e_2018395.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bb/anonymous-1_ballad_why-does-your-sword-so-drip-with-blood-e_2018395.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bb/anonymous-1_ballad_why-does-your-sword-so-drip-with-blood-e_2018395.jpg) > ““Why does your sword so drip with blood, Edward, Edward? Why does your sword so drip with blood? And why so sad are ye, O?' 'O, I have killed my hawk so good, Mother, mother: O I have killed my hawk so good: And I had no more but he, O.' 'Your hawk's blood was never so red, Edward, Edward: Your hawk’s blood was never so red, My dear son I tell thee, O.' 'O, I have killed my red-roan steed, Mother, mother: O, I have killed my red-roan steed, That once was so fair and free, O.' 'Your steed was old, and we have got more, Edward, Edward: Your steed was old, and we have got more, Some other evil ye fear, O.' 'O, I have killed my father dear, Mother, mother: O, I have killed my father dear, Alas! and woe is me, O!' 'And what penance will ye suffer for that, Edward, Edward? And what penance will ye suffer for that? My dear son, now tell me, O.' 'I'll set my feet in yonder boat, Mother, mother: I’ll set my feet in yonder boat, And I’ll fare over the sea, O.' 'And what will ye do with your towers and your halls, Edward, Edward? And what will ye do with your towers and your halls, That were sae fair to see, O?' 'I’ll let them stand till they down fall, Mother, mother: I’ll let them stand till they down fall, For here never more may I be, O.' 'And what will ye leave to your children and your wife, Edward, Edward? And what will ye leave to your children and your wife When ye go over the sea, O?' 'The world is large, let them beg through life, Mother, mother: The world is large, let them beg throw life, For them never more will I see, O.' 'And what will ye leave to your own mother dear, Edward, Edward? And what will ye leave to your own mother dear? My dear son, now tell me, O.' 'The curse of hell from me shall you bear for me, Mother, mother: The curse of hell from me shall you bear for me, Such counsels you gave to me, O.”” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A lamentation of loss and guilt as the speaker recounts killing loved ones and wonders about legacy and penance. **In simple terms:** Grief over killing loved ones and questioning what remains. Key Takeaway Reflect on the weight of actions and their impact. Themes grief guilt legacy penance family Mood somber reflective melancholic Type dramatic poetic lament When to use this quote - funeral rites - family confession - personal reckoning - legacy planning Key Concepts mortality regret inheritance Questions to Reflect On - How do you confront guilt over irreversible actions? - What legacy do you wish to leave? A Different Perspective The poetic form may obscure concrete advice for coping. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ballad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballad/) [Blood Edward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blood-edward-3642983/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Good mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-mother/) [Got Edward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got-edward-3642985/) [Hawk Blood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hawk-blood-3642986/) [Murder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murder/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Suffer Edward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffer-edward-3642984/) [Sword Drip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sword-drip-3642982/) ## Related quotes > [I am the hawk and there's blood in my feathers, but time is still turning they soon will be dry. And all those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denver/i-am-the-hawk-and-there-s-blood-in-my-feathers-but-time-is-still/) [John Denver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denver/) > [I had rather be a Kitten, and cry mew, Than one of these same Meeter Ballad-mongers: I had rather heare a Brazen Candlestick turn'd,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-had-rather-be-a-kitten-and-cry-mew-than-one-of-these-same-meeter/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [To me, ballads are special, because you can have a pop song that’ll be know for three weeks and then you’ll hear nothing else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/to-me-ballads-are-special-because-you-can-have-a-pop-song-that-ll-be/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [For a ballad's a thing you expect to find lies in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-lover/for-a-ballad-s-a-thing-you-expect-to-find-lies-in/) [Samuel Lover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-lover/) > [I have a long track record of never getting the part. And I did get a small part in 'The Ballad of Baby Doe,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridget-everett/i-have-a-long-track-record-of-never-getting-the-part-and-i-did-get-a/) [Bridget Everett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridget-everett/) > [“♫ Climbed that roost, alighted right there. Made mush of his head for the onlooker bears. A two-pronger her prize, a meat most rare.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-drake/climbed-that-roost-alighted-right-there-made-mush-of-his-head-for-the/) [Darrell Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-drake/) > [“It's the ballads I like best, and I'm not talking about the clichéd ones where a diva hits her highest note or a rock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-kuehnert/it-s-the-ballads-i-like-best-and-i-m-not-talking-about-the-clich-d/) [Stephanie Kuehnert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-kuehnert/) > [My music is very diversified. I'll have a rock song then I'll do a ballad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-camp/my-music-is-very-diversified-i-ll-have-a-rock-song-then-i-ll-do-a/) [Jeremy Camp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-camp/) > [I love a ballad but even too well if it be doleful matter merrily set down, or a very pleasant thing indeed and sung…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-love-a-ballad-but-even-too-well-if-it-be-doleful-matter-merrily-set/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [One of our earliest recordings was an arrangement of 'Ticket to Ride.' It was our first single and it makes a beautiful ballad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carpenter/one-of-our-earliest-recordings-was-an-arrangement-of-ticket-to-ride/) [Richard Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carpenter/) > [When I first heard that song, it was a ballad but it had a lot more. It felt like a gospel song when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-cox/when-i-first-heard-that-song-it-was-a-ballad-but-it-had-a-lot-more-it/) [Deborah Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-cox/) > [“Night after night on starry wings Night lovers soared so high Miles apart, across the oceans Their love forgot to sigh In heavenly flight’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munia-khan/night-after-night-on-starry-wings-night-lovers-soared-so-high-miles/) [Munia Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munia-khan/) > [My love was Bob Dylan, but as I got older I realized a good ballad was a good ballad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-raitt/my-love-was-bob-dylan-but-as-i-got-older-i-realized-a-good-ballad-was/) [Bonnie Raitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-raitt/) > [I would say I am one of those people who just love to connect to people doing something I love. Can't lie, love a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calum-scott/i-would-say-i-am-one-of-those-people-who-just-love-to-connect-to/) [Calum Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calum-scott/) > [No one wants to hear me crooning a ballad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-manuel-miranda/no-one-wants-to-hear-me-crooning-a-ballad/) [Lin-Manuel Miranda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-manuel-miranda/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Ballad quotes > [I had rather be a Kitten, and cry mew, Than one of these same Meeter Ballad-mongers: I had rather heare a Brazen Candlestick turn'd,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-had-rather-be-a-kitten-and-cry-mew-than-one-of-these-same-meeter/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I would say I am one of those people who just love to connect to people doing something I love. Can't lie, love a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calum-scott/i-would-say-i-am-one-of-those-people-who-just-love-to-connect-to/) [Calum Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calum-scott/) > [My love was Bob Dylan, but as I got older I realized a good ballad was a good ballad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-raitt/my-love-was-bob-dylan-but-as-i-got-older-i-realized-a-good-ballad-was/) [Bonnie Raitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-raitt/) > [“Night after night on starry wings Night lovers soared so high Miles apart, across the oceans Their love forgot to sigh In heavenly flight’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munia-khan/night-after-night-on-starry-wings-night-lovers-soared-so-high-miles/) [Munia Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munia-khan/) > [When I first heard that song, it was a ballad but it had a lot more. It felt like a gospel song when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-cox/when-i-first-heard-that-song-it-was-a-ballad-but-it-had-a-lot-more-it/) [Deborah Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-cox/) > [One of our earliest recordings was an arrangement of 'Ticket to Ride.' It was our first single and it makes a beautiful ballad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carpenter/one-of-our-earliest-recordings-was-an-arrangement-of-ticket-to-ride/) [Richard Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carpenter/) > [I love a ballad but even too well if it be doleful matter merrily set down, or a very pleasant thing indeed and sung…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-love-a-ballad-but-even-too-well-if-it-be-doleful-matter-merrily-set/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [My music is very diversified. I'll have a rock song then I'll do a ballad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-camp/my-music-is-very-diversified-i-ll-have-a-rock-song-then-i-ll-do-a/) [Jeremy Camp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-camp/) > [“It's the ballads I like best, and I'm not talking about the clichéd ones where a diva hits her highest note or a rock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-kuehnert/it-s-the-ballads-i-like-best-and-i-m-not-talking-about-the-clich-d/) [Stephanie Kuehnert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-kuehnert/) > [“♫ Climbed that roost, alighted right there. Made mush of his head for the onlooker bears. A two-pronger her prize, a meat most rare.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-drake/climbed-that-roost-alighted-right-there-made-mush-of-his-head-for-the/) [Darrell Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-drake/) > [I have a long track record of never getting the part. And I did get a small part in 'The Ballad of Baby Doe,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridget-everett/i-have-a-long-track-record-of-never-getting-the-part-and-i-did-get-a/) [Bridget Everett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridget-everett/) > [For a ballad's a thing you expect to find lies in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-lover/for-a-ballad-s-a-thing-you-expect-to-find-lies-in/) [Samuel Lover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-lover/) > [To me, ballads are special, because you can have a pop song that’ll be know for three weeks and then you’ll hear nothing else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/to-me-ballads-are-special-because-you-can-have-a-pop-song-that-ll-be/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [No one wants to hear me crooning a ballad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-manuel-miranda/no-one-wants-to-hear-me-crooning-a-ballad/) [Lin-Manuel Miranda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-manuel-miranda/) > [I was kind of known as a ballad singer. People would send ballads. Some of them would go over my shoulder and float off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-coolidge/i-was-kind-of-known-as-a-ballad-singer-people-would-send-ballads-some/) [Rita Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-coolidge/) [Browse all 53 Ballad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballad/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Why does your sword so drip with blood, Edward, Edward? Why does your sword so drip with blood? And why so sad are ye, O?' 'O, I have killed my hawk so good, Mother, mother: O I have killed my hawk so good: And I had no more but he, O.' 'Your hawk's blood was never so red, Edward, Edward: Your hawk’s blood was never so red, My dear son I tell thee, O.' 'O, I have killed my red-roan steed, Mother, mother: O, I have killed my red-roan steed, That once was so fair and free, O.' 'Your steed was old, and we have got more, Edward, Edward: Your steed was old, and we have got more, Some other evil ye fear, O.' 'O, I have killed my father dear, Mother, mother: O, I have killed my father dear, Alas! and woe is me, O!' 'And what penance will ye suffer for that, Edward, Edward? And what penance will ye suffer for that? My dear son, now tell me, O.' 'I'll set my feet in yonder boat, Mother, mother: I’ll set my feet in yonder boat, And I’ll fare over the sea, O.' 'And what will ye do with your towers and your halls, Edward, Edward? And what will ye do with your towers and your halls, That were sae fair to see, O?' 'I’ll let them stand till they down fall, Mother, mother: I’ll let them stand till they down fall, For here never more may I be, O.' 'And what will ye leave to your children and your wife, Edward, Edward? And what will ye leave to your children and your wife When ye go over the sea, O?' 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