Loreena McKennitt Album

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

But where is my love gone with his cheeks like roses?
And his good black Billycock on, decked 'round 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 coming to town, strange news is carried
Strange news flies 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 laid 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

My love said to me, "My mother won't mind
And me Father won't slight you for your lack of kind"
Then she stepped away from me and this she did say
"It will not be long, love, 'til our wedding day"

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, 'til our wedding day"

Where dips the rocky highland of sleuth wood in the lake
There lies a leafy island where flapping herons wake
The drowsy water rats there we've hid our fairy vats
Full of berries and of reddest stolen cherries

Chorus:
Come away, oh human child
To the waters and the wild
With a faery 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
'Til the moon has taken flight to and fro we leap
And chase the frothy bubbles whilst 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 solemned eyed
He'll hear no more the lowing of the calves on the warm hillside
Or the kettle on the hob sing peace unto 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 faery hand in hand
For the world's more full of weeping
Than you can understand

[No lyrics]

I wish I was in Carrighfergus
Only for nights in Ballygrant
I would swim over the deepest ocean
Only for nights in Ballygrant

But the sea is wide and I can't get over
And neither have I wings to fly
If I could find me 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 'til 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 Ballygrant

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

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 bide 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, bear this in your mind
If ever I sail from old Ireland
You'll mind, I'll not leave you behind"

Farewell 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

As I walked out one morning all in the month of May
Down by a flowery garden I carelessly did stray
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 heart's 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 wood, 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 honor 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 despair
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 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 'til this day is done

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 'til 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 'til the 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 'til this day is done
Cares of tomorrow must wait 'til this day is done

Oh for a voice like thunder, and a tongue
To drown the throat of war! - When the senses
Are shaken, and the soul is driven to madness
Who can stand? When the souls of the oppressed
Fight in the troubled air that rages, who can stand?
When the whirlwind of fury comes from the
Throne of God, when the frowns of His countenance
Drive the nations together, who can stand?
When sin claps his broad wings over the battle
And sails rejoicing in the flood of death
When souls are torn to everlasting fire
And fiends of hell rejoice upon the slain
Oh who can stand? Oh who hath caused this?
Oh who can answer at the Throne of God?
Kings and nobles of the land have done it
Hear it not, Heaven, thy ministers have done it