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Airegin28 Posted 12 years ago
Vocabulary

"charmed on the wayside" in "'Tis Autumn"

Could anyone help me understand the meaning of "charmed on the wayside" in the old song "'Tis Autumn"? I don't understand who charmed who. Did the trees charm the passers-by with their gorgeous fruit? Or were the trees themselves charmed by something? Also, in some versions, the singer seems to be saying "all the wayside" instead of "on the wayside", and one singer says "by the wayside", and another sings "spoiled" in place of "charmed". Would anyone help me, please?
  

Top answer

", which doesn't seem to be the intent here. "On the wayside" would be used in a straightforward statement, meaning: by the side of the road, but here the usage seems metaphorical. "All the wayside" seems to be the best fit here: the trees growing along the side of the road brought charm to ("charmed") the side of the road, with their appearance.

— Anonymous

  • ", which doesn't seem to be the intent here.
  • "On the wayside" would be used in a straightforward statement, meaning: by the side of the road, but here the usage seems metaphorical.
  • "All the wayside" seems to be the best fit here: the trees growing along the side of the road brought charm to ("charmed") the side of the road, with their appearance.
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2 Answers
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In English, the phrase "by the wayside" has a negative connotation, as in "He left me by the wayside." or "Things fell by the wayside.", which doesn't seem to be the intent here. "On the wayside" would be used in a straightforward statement, meaning: by the side of the road, but here the usage seems metaphorical.

"All the wayside" seems to be the best fit here: the trees growing alon
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Thank you very much. That's what I suspected.
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