Volver and devolver

Question

In the song "El meulle de San Blas" the singer uses volver and devolver to mean "to return" - ....El juró que volvería.... and later; - ....ningún barco a su amor le devolvía....

I see that devolver has lots of other uses too (including to vomit etc), but in the use of "to return" when would you use one or the other?

Gracias

Answer 1

"Volver" does mean "to return" like "regresar"

Devolver, however means to return something to somebody.

Your sentence means: "No boat brought back her love to her.

So the whole thing says: " He swore to return, but no boat brought her love back to her. "

Her love, of course was her novio--sweetheart.