The phrases creating a tone of foreboding are:
- "strange blight;"
- "evil spell;"
- "mysterious maladies;"
- "shadow of death."
<em>Foreboding</em> means predicting or announcing that something bad is about to happen. Taking the answers one by one, you can see how they relate to the same ominous idea:
- a "strange blight" and "evil maladies" refer to a destructive condition which no-body can explain;
- an "evil spell" means that it is interpreted as a magical curse;
- the "shadow of death" is a metaphor meaning that death is coming to the crops or cattle (depending on the original text excerpt).
Answer: I think it means, the person who wrote the song wishes that they could be enough for a loved one or a friend, but can't provide that friend or family's needs, so they will still be with them, and provide what they can to the person.
Salinas Valley in December at Henry Allen's ranch