swear away

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MichalS  #510445  Tue, 06 May 08 04:19 PM
Hey, can someone tell me what swear away as in swear sb's life away means?

thank you,

michal 

  
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Avangi  #510451  Tue, 06 May 08 04:30 PM

That's tough without context.  Is it reflexive?

People often "swear" that something is true "ON" something sacred, as "on my life"; "on my mother's grave"; "on the holy Bible"; etc.

If you mean to swear somebody else's life away, my example would not be it.

  
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CalifJim  #510619  Wed, 07 May 08 03:56 AM
Perhaps one person's taking of an oath caused another's life to be ruined, as when one person swears (unjustly) that another has committed murder, and the so-called murderer is sent to jail for life.

It's impossible to say without more context.

CJ 

  
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MichalS  #519551  Tue, 27 May 08 01:18 PM
Thanks for your responses!

The context is a song of Joan Baez:

When first I came to Louisville
Some pleasure there to find
A damsel there from Lexington
Was pleasing to my mind
Her rosy cheeks, her ruby lips
Like arrows pierced my breast
And the name she bore was Flora
The Lily Of The West

I courted lovely Flora
Some pleasure there to find
She turned unto another man
Which sore distressed my mind
She robbed me of my liberty
Deprived me of my rest
Still I love my faithless Flora
The Lily Of The West

Down in yonder shady grove
A man of high degree
Conversing with my Flora there
It seemed so strange to me
And the answer that she gave to him
It sure did me oppress
I was betrayed by Flora
The Lily Of The West

I stepped up to my rival
My dagger in my hand
I seized him by the collar and
I boldly made him stand
Being mad to desperation I pierced him in the breast
All for my lovely Flora
The Lily Of The West

I had to stand my trial
I had to make my plea
They placed me in the criminal box
And then commenced on me

Although she swore my life away

Deprived me of my rest
And I still love my faithless Flora
The Lily Of The West

 

thanks, Michał 

  
Avangi  #519641  Tue, 27 May 08 04:58 PM

Hi M,  I guess you're clear on this, right?

Her sworn testimony at his trial, cost him his life.  (Her act of swearing that he had committed murder, made his life go away.)

  - A.

  
MichalS  #521955  Mon, 02 Jun 08 08:46 AM
oh yes :) thanks for the clarification!
  
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