0
Usenet Posted 20 years ago
Learning
Problem with vocabulary
Hi All,
I'm reading the "What is a Youth" lyrics, from the "Romeo and Juliet" movie by Franco Zeffirelli.
I've faced some problems with vocabulary:
"The world wags on"
The only meaning for "to wag" I could find in my dictionary was that "the dog wagged its tail". It doesn't match the context well... I guess this means "The world just goes on", but I'm not sure.
"others will tease and tarry"
What does "to tarry" mean?
"Mine is the very best parry"
I only know "to parry", it does not make much sense here.
and
"Love is a task and it never will pall"
What's so exciting about tasks to speak about them in this context?
I'd very much appreciate your help.
And the complete lyrics:
"What is a Youth"
music by Nino Rota, words by Eugene Walter
What is a youth? Impetuous fire.
What is a maid? Ice and desire.
The world wags on,
a rose will bloom..
It then will fade:
so does a youth,
so does the fairest maid.
Comes a time when one sweet smile
has its season for a while..
Then love's in love with me.
Some they think only to marry,
others will tease and tarry.
Mine is the very best parry.
Cupid he rules us all.
Caper the cape, but sing me the song,
Death will come soon to hush us along.
Sweeter than honey... and bitter as gall,
Love is a task and it never will pall.
Sweeter than honey and bitter as gall.
Cupid he rules us all.
T. D.
PS. Please correct any language mistakes, and clumsiness, in what I wrote. I'll be grateful.
I'm reading the "What is a Youth" lyrics, from the "Romeo and Juliet" movie by Franco Zeffirelli.
I've faced some problems with vocabulary:
"The world wags on"
The only meaning for "to wag" I could find in my dictionary was that "the dog wagged its tail". It doesn't match the context well... I guess this means "The world just goes on", but I'm not sure.
"others will tease and tarry"
What does "to tarry" mean?
"Mine is the very best parry"
I only know "to parry", it does not make much sense here.
and
"Love is a task and it never will pall"
What's so exciting about tasks to speak about them in this context?
I'd very much appreciate your help.
And the complete lyrics:
"What is a Youth"
music by Nino Rota, words by Eugene Walter
What is a youth? Impetuous fire.
What is a maid? Ice and desire.
The world wags on,
a rose will bloom..
It then will fade:
so does a youth,
so does the fairest maid.
Comes a time when one sweet smile
has its season for a while..
Then love's in love with me.
Some they think only to marry,
others will tease and tarry.
Mine is the very best parry.
Cupid he rules us all.
Caper the cape, but sing me the song,
Death will come soon to hush us along.
Sweeter than honey... and bitter as gall,
Love is a task and it never will pall.
Sweeter than honey and bitter as gall.
Cupid he rules us all.
T. D.
PS. Please correct any language mistakes, and clumsiness, in what I wrote. I'll be grateful.
Top answer
[nq:1]Hi All, I'm reading the "What is a Youth" lyrics, from the "Romeo and Juliet" movie by Franco Zeffirelli. I've ... tail".
- [nq:1]Hi All, I'm reading the "What is a Youth" lyrics, from the "Romeo and Juliet" movie by Franco Zeffirelli.
- I've ...
- tail".
- It doesn't match the context well...
- [/nq] An old meaning of wag is to go clumsily, so you're right.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
4 Answers
0
[nq:1]Hi All, I'm reading the "What is a Youth" lyrics, from the "Romeo and Juliet" movie by Franco Zeffirelli. I've ... tail". It doesn't match the context well... I guess this means "The world just goes on", but I'm not sure.[/nq]
An old meaning of wag is to go clumsily, so you're right.
[nq:1]"others will tease and tarry" What does "to tarry" mean?[/nq]
tarry means to stay a while b
An old meaning of wag is to go clumsily, so you're right.
[nq:1]"others will tease and tarry" What does "to tarry" mean?[/nq]
tarry means to stay a while b
00
[nq:1]Overall it's not that good a set of lyrics. That scene was a weak point in an otherwise pretty good film.[/nq]
In my opinion, Juliet also used to cry too much,
and the cry was exaggerated. But the film is
pretty good indeed.
In my opinion, Juliet also used to cry too much,
and the cry was exaggerated. But the film is
pretty good indeed.
00
[nq:2]Overall it's not that good a set of lyrics. That scene was a weak point in an otherwise pretty good film.[/nq]
[nq:1]In my opinion, Juliet also used to cry too much, and the cry was exaggerated. But the film is pretty ... D. PS. Please correct any language mistakes, and clumsiness, etc. This is a very good occassion for me to learn.[/nq]
Your Collins dictionary is a concise one. It c
[nq:1]In my opinion, Juliet also used to cry too much, and the cry was exaggerated. But the film is pretty ... D. PS. Please correct any language mistakes, and clumsiness, etc. This is a very good occassion for me to learn.[/nq]
Your Collins dictionary is a concise one. It c
00
[nq:1]A large dictionary - free and online - is the American Heritage Dictionary of English.[/nq]
It's great indeed. Both literally, and not.
Many thanks again!
T. D.
It's great indeed. Both literally, and not.
Many thanks again!
T. D.
0
Related Questions