I've always loved this song & always wanted to learn it to sing. But I just can't get past the agreement. What would posses a spouse to agree to pass off their loved one to a stranger just in passing with no reason. Ah, with no reason. I've always wondered what was the reason, why this agreement between strangers? Was it being confronted with royalty or wealth or a command by one of high position? The lover that lost surely seems to be lamenting, so why. Why would the spouse that goes agree to go or go without complent? Why would both not just say F&%koff? I've also always felt that this is only part of a more complete ballad & that the middle of the story has gone missing. It's usual for a ballad to be more complete than this & at least give hint to what's going on.

Has anyone got an opinion on this or more of the ballad?

Barry