Jos van Geffen --
Home |
Site Map |
Contact Me
But where is my love gone
With his cheeks like roses
And his good black Billycock on
Decked around with primroses.
I hope the scorching sun
Won't shine and burn his beauty
And if I was with my love
I'd do my duty.
Strange news is come to town
Strange news is carried
Strange news flys up and down
That my love is married.
I wish them both much joy
Though they can't hear me
And may God reward him well
For the slighting of me.
Don't you remember when
You lay beside me
And you said you'd marry me
And not deny me.
If I said I'd marry you
It was only for to try you
So bring your witness love
And I'll not deny you.
No, witness have I none
Save God Almighty
And may he reward you well
For the slighting of me.
Her lips grew pale and wan
It made a poor heart tremble
To think she loved a one
And he proved deceitful.
A blacksmith courted me
Nine months and better
He fairly won my heart
Wrote me a letter.
With his hammer in his hand
He looked quite clever
And if I was with my love
I'd live forever.
She stepped away from me
And she moved through the Fair
And fondly I watched her
Move here and move there
She went her way homeward
With one star awake
As the swans in the evening
Move over the lake.
The people were saying
No two e'er were wed
But one has a sorrow
That never was said
And she smiled as she passed me
With her goods and her gear
And that was the last
That I saw of my dear.
I dreamed it last night
That my true love came in
So softly she entered
Her feet made no din
She came close beside me
And this she did say
It will not be long love
Till our wedding day.
Chorus:
Come away, oh human child
To the waters and the wild
With a fairy hand in hand
For the world's more full of weeping
Than you can understand.
Where the wave of moonlight glosses
The dim grey sands with light
By far off furthest Rosses
We foot it all the night
Weaving olden dances
Mingling hands and mingling glances
Till the moon has taken flight
To and fro we leap
And chase the frothy bubbles
While the world is full of troubles
And is anxious in its sleep.
Chorus
Where the wandering water gushes
From the hills above Glen-Car
In pools among the rushes
That scarce could bathe a star
We seek for slumbering trout
And whispering in their ears
Give them unquiet dreams
Leaning softly out
From ferns that drop their tears
Over the young streams.
Chorus
Away with us he's going
The solemn-eyed
He'll hear no more the lowing
Of the calves on the warm hillside
Or the kettle on the hob
Sing peace into his breast
Or see the brown mice bob
Round and round the oatmeal chest.
For he comes, the human child
To the waters and the wild
With a fairy hand in hand
For the world's more full of weeping
Than you can understand.
But the sea is wide, and I can't get over.
Neither have I wings to fly.
Oh, if I could find a handsome boatsman
To ferry me over to my love and die.
Now in Kilkenny, it is reported,
They've marble stones there as black as ink.
With gold and silver I would transport her
But I'll sing no more now, till I get a drink.
I'm drunk today, but then I'm seldom sober.
A handsome rover from town to town.
Oh, but I am sick now, my days are over,
Come all you young lads and lay me down.
I wish I was in Carrighfergus,
Only for nights in Bellygrant.
Oh it's down where yon waters run muddy
I'm afraid they will never run clear
And it's when I begin for to study
My mind is on him that's not here.
And it's this one and that one may court him
But if any one gets him but me
It's early and late I will curse them
The parting lovely Willie from me.
Oh a father he calls on his daughter
Two choices I'll give unto thee
Would you rather see Willie's ship a'sailing
See him hung like a dog on yonder tree.
Oh father, dear father, I love him
I can no longer hide it from thee
Through an acre of fire I would travel
Along with the lovely Willie to be.
Oh hard was the heartbreak I'm finding
She took from her full heart's delight
May the chains of old Ireland come find them
And softly their pillows at night.
Oh yonder there's a ship on the ocean
And she does not know which way to steer
From the east and the west she's a'blowing
She reminds me of the charms of my dear.
Oh it's yonder my Willie will be coming
He said he'd be here in the spring
And it's down by yon green shades I'll meet him
And among wild roses we'll sing.
For a gold ring he placed on my finger
Saying love hear this in your mind
If ever I sail from old Ireland
You'll mind I'll not leave you behind.
Here's a health to you bonny Kellswater
Where you get all the pleasures of life
Where you get all the fishing and fowling
And a bonny wee lass for your wife.
I overheard a young maid
In sorrow did complain,
All for her absent lover
Who plows the raging main.
I boldly stepped up to her
And put her in surprise.
I know she did not know me
I being in disguise.
I says, "Me charming creature,
My joy, my hearts delight,
How far have you to travel
This dark and dreary night?"
"I'm in search of a faithless young man.
Johnny is his name.
And along the Banks of Claudy
I'm told he does remain."
"This is the Banks of Claudy
Fair maid where on you stand.
But don't depend on Johnny
For he's a false young man.
Oh don't depend on Johnny
For he'll not meet you here.
But tarry with me in yon green woods
No danger need you fear.
Oh it's six long weeks or better
Since Johnny left the shore
He's crossing the wild ocean
Where the foam and the billows roar.
He's crossing the wild ocean
For honour and for fame.
But this I've heard, the ship was wrecked
All on the coast of Spain."
Oh it's when she heard this dreadful news
She flew into dispair.
By the wringing of her milk white hands
And the tearing of her hair.
Saying "If Johnny he is drowned
No man on earth I'll take,
But through lonesome groves and valleys
I'll wander for his sake."
Oh it's when he saw her loyalty
No longer could he stand
He flew into her arms saying
"Betsy I'm the man."
Saying "Betsy I'm the young man
The cause of all your pain
But since we've met on Claudy Banks
We'll never part again."
Come by the hills to the land
where life is a song
And sing while the birds fill the air
with their joy all day long.
Where the trees sway in time, and even
the wind sings in tune.
And cares of tomorrow must wait
till this day is done.
Come by the hills to the land
where legend remains
Where stories of old stir the heart
and may yet come again.
Where the past has been lost and the future
is still to be won.
And cares of tomorrow must wait
till this day is done.
Come by the hills to the land
where fancy is free.
And stand where the peaks meet the sky
and the rocks reach the sea.
Where the rivers run clear and the bracken
is gold in the sun.
And cares of tomorrow must wait
till this day is done.
And cares of tomorrow must wait
till this day is done.
From: Elemental (1985)
see the separate lyrics pages for the authors of the lyrics.
<=== The Loreena McKennitt
main page
/
CD index
/
lyrics index
Jos van Geffen --
Home |
Site Map |
Contact Me