Strawberry Wine Matraca Berg Gary Harrison Lyrics
Country music has always been known for its storytelling element, and "Strawberry Wine" by Matraca Berg and Gary Harrison is a perfect example of that. The song not only narrates a simple love story but also takes the listeners on a journey of reminiscence and nostalgia. It paints a picture of a young girl's first love, and how she discovers herself through it. The song was a massive hit when it was released in 1996, and it continues to be cherished by music enthusiasts even today. Let's dive deep into the lyrics of "Strawberry Wine" and explore its beauty.
Verse 1
The song begins with the narrator, a grown-up woman, reminiscing about her younger days. She says:
He was working through college, on my grandpa's farm
I was thirsting for knowledge, and he had a car
Yeah, I was caught somewhere between a woman and a child
One restless summer we found love growing wild
The above lines set the tone of the song and introduce the central characters. The narrator was a young girl who fell in love with a guy who worked on her grandfather's farm. She was at an age where she was transitioning from a child to a woman, and the guy was her first love. The line "we found love growing wild" suggests that their love was pure and natural, just like the strawberries in a vineyard.
Chorus
The chorus of the song is catchy and soulful, and it goes like this:
Strawberry wine, seventeen
The hot July moon saw everything
My first taste of love, oh, bittersweet
The green on the vine like strawberry wine
The above lines encapsulate the essence of the song. The narrator is describing the summer when she was seventeen and had her first taste of love. The line "the hot July moon saw everything" suggests that their love affair was clandestine and took place under the moonlight. The mention of "strawberry wine" in the chorus is symbolic of the narrator's innocence and naivety. Just like how strawberry wine is sweet but also bitter, her first love was a mix of pleasure and pain.
Verse 2
In the second verse, the narrator talks about how her relationship with the guy progressed over the summer. She sings:
I still remember when thirty was old
My biggest fear was September when he had to go
A few cards and letters and one long-distance call
We drifted away like the leaves in the fall
The above lines show that the narrator was unsure about her future with the guy. She was young and inexperienced, and the thought of him leaving for college terrified her. The line "we drifted away like the leaves in the fall" suggests that their love was ephemeral and couldn't stand the test of time.
Chorus
The chorus comes back again, and the narrator repeats the lines:
Strawberry wine, seventeen
The hot July moon saw everything
My first taste of love, oh, bittersweet
The green on the vine like strawberry wine
Bridge
The bridge of the song is short but potent. The narrator sings:
When I think about those summers, all the beautiful times
I watched you laughing from the passenger side and
Realized I'd been alive
The above lines show that the narrator cherishes the memories of the summer when she fell in love. She realizes that those were the moments when she truly felt alive and happy.
Chorus
The chorus comes back one last time, and the narrator sings:
Strawberry wine, seventeen
The hot July moon saw everything
My first taste of love, oh, bittersweet
And green on the vine
Like strawberry wine
The repetition of the chorus at the end of the song gives it a sense of closure. The narrator has come full circle, and she has finally made peace with her past.
Conclusion
"Strawberry Wine" by Matraca Berg and Gary Harrison is a beautiful country song that captures the essence of first love. The lyrics are simple but soulful, and the melody is catchy and heartwarming. The song has become a classic in the country music genre and continues to resonate with listeners worldwide. It reminds us that our first love is a memory that we will always cherish, no matter how much time has passed.