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SWING HIGH AND SWING LOW by Eugene Field

Summary, meaning, line-by-line analysis & FAQ.

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A mother sits by the harbor, gently rocking her baby and singing a lullaby as she waits for her sailor husband to return from the sea.

Poet
Eugene Field
Themes
home, loneliness, love
The PoemFull text

SWING HIGH AND SWING LOW

Eugene Field

Swing high and swing low While the breezes they blow-- It's off for a sailor thy father would go; And it's here in the harbor, in sight of the sea, He hath left his wee babe with my song and with me: "Swing high and swing low While the breezes they blow!" Swing high and swing low While the breezes they blow-- It's oh for the waiting as weary days go! And it's oh for the heartache that smiteth me when I sing my song over and over again: "Swing high and swing low While the breezes they blow!" "Swing high and swing low "-- The sea singeth so, And it waileth anon in its ebb and its flow; And a sleeper sleeps on to that song of the sea Nor recketh he ever of mine or of me! "Swing high and swing low While the breezes they blow-- 'T was off for a sailor thy father would go!"

Public domain

Sourced from Project Gutenberg

§01Quick summary

What this poem is about

A mother sits by the harbor, gently rocking her baby and singing a lullaby as she waits for her sailor husband to return from the sea. The song she sings flows with the rhythm of the waves, but beneath its soothing melody lies a profound sense of longing and worry. By the end of the song, the baby has fallen asleep, blissfully unaware of the heartache weighing on his mother.

§02Themes

Recurring themes

§03Line by line

Stanza by stanza, with notes

  1. Swing high and swing low / While the breezes they blow--

    Editor's note

    The mother begins with her lullaby, creating a soothing, wave-like rhythm that flows throughout the poem. She gently informs the baby that his father has gone to sea, presenting the sailor's departure as a natural occurrence—much like the breeze. The recurring refrain serves as both a cradle song and a prayer, helping to keep the absent father close in spirit.

  2. Swing high and swing low / While the breezes they blow--

    Editor's note

    The second stanza shifts away from the cheerful tone and reveals the underlying grief. The mother acknowledges the exhaustion that comes with waiting, and how singing the lullaby repeatedly reopens her wounds — she sings it "over and over again," reflecting both a mother's routine and the nature of grief. The word "smiteth" adds a physical, almost violent intensity to the heartache.

  3. "Swing high and swing low" -- / The sea singeth so,

    Editor's note

    Now the sea itself has taken up the song, and its voice is no longer comforting — it "waileth" in its ebb and flow. The mother sees that the baby has fallen asleep and no longer needs her or her song; he is beyond worry, cradled by the same rhythm that took his father away. The final lines return to the opening refrain, but now they carry the full weight of everything the mother has shared, transforming a simple lullaby into something more like a lament.

§04Tone & mood

How this poem feels

Tender on the surface, but mournful underneath. Field employs the gentle, swaying rhythm of a lullaby to highlight the mother's true emotional state — the form comforts while the words subtly express sorrow. By the end, the tone transitions to something more resigned and elegiac, as the sea's wailing takes over from the mother's singing.

§05Symbols & metaphors

Symbols & metaphors

The swing / rocking motion
The gentle sway of the cradle reflects the ebb and flow of the tides, capturing the essence of waiting — hope builds while fear recedes, again and again. It embodies the mother's emotional journey as her husband navigates the sea.
The sea
The sea is not only what took the father away but also the force that now hums its own version of the lullaby. It remains indifferent to the family's suffering, yet it resonates with their song — becoming a symbol of fate or nature that disregards human desires.
The lullaby refrain
The repeated lines do more than create a song—they serve as a ritual for the mother, helping her feel connected to her husband and keep the family united while he's away. Singing it "over and over again" brings both comfort and pain.
The sleeping baby
The child's sleep at the end symbolizes innocence free from adult sorrow. He doesn't think about his mother or a song — he is at peace in a way she cannot be, which makes her loneliness feel even more intense.
The harbor
The harbor is a threshold—the final spot where land and sea intersect, where the family was last complete. Being "in sight of the sea" means the mother can never fully turn away from what took her husband.

§06Historical context

Historical context

Eugene Field was a prominent poet in the late nineteenth century, a time when American poetry aimed at family audiences thrived in newspapers and magazines. Based in Chicago, he earned the title "poet of childhood" and published extensively in the *Chicago Morning News*. His poems, which often focused on domestic life, the struggles of sailors' wives, and the absence of fathers, resonated with a deep cultural anxiety—maritime work was perilous, communication was slow, and many families faced long periods of waiting. Field's writing emerged during a sentimental era that didn't shy away from exploring grief in poems meant for a general audience, including children. His well-known pieces, such as "Little Boy Blue" and "Wynken, Blynken, and Nod," masterfully use a soft, musical quality to convey significant emotional depth. "Swing High and Swing Low" is another example that fits perfectly within this tradition.

§07FAQ

Questions readers ask

The speaker is a mother and a sailor's wife, gently rocking her baby in a cradle by the harbor while her husband is away at sea. She sings the lullaby, experiencing the heartache that the poem captures.

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