1. |
Overture
01:44
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Instrumental summoning
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2. |
Once Upon
01:03
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Once upon a time and far, far away
Over the seas where enchantments lay
Once upon a time and far, far away
Deep in the woods we will meet this day
Walk with me and take my hand
Learn the secrets within this land
In the night the moon will shine
Here, by the soul fires, hearts entwine
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3. |
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South of the Sun and North of the Moon
come sit beside me and weave at my loom
Glinder,* my dear, oh spin with me soon
for the Good Folk are near by the bale and the boon
West of the Wind and East of the Sea
let the giddy grace flow to the root of the tree
Some from afar and some from a dream
many-coloured our hands, if we be who we glean
Hey ho derry o! O’er sand or snow
Bay, bushberry and pomegranate grow
If we begin but a tale or a tune
We can marry the Willow and Wattle forenoon
South of the Sun and North of the Moon
We can unleash our love like a gale on a schoon†
song sung
harp thrum
bee stung
pearl strung
lake swum
storm flung
green thumb
rain drum
*Glinder: A verb I invented. A hybrid of glimmer, linger and mingle. Active musing. Fey hobnobbing. May involve ambling, meandering, roaming, flickering or weaving through a gathering. Its speed varies from lolling to darting in curiosity, whimsy and a dash of mischief.
†Abbreviation of schooner, a small fishing boat
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4. |
The Children of Lir
07:41
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In a time of bards and chieftains, when the bright ones walked the land
And beauty slipped from silver strings touched by a minstrel’s hand
In a time when giants held the hills and stone circles rang with song
And the Lia Fail stood in the soil and Tara’s walls stood strong.
A man of the De Dannan, from a noble line was Lir
His wife the daughter of Ireland’s king and four children he loved dear
But Niamh his wife lost her life, in childbed she did pass
And left four children filled with grief and Lir a broken heart
The King he sent to Lir his second daughter as a bride
And though she had a love for Lir no child could she abide
For Aoife had a jealous heart and took them far from home
To be rid of them for evermore and have the love of Lir alone.
It was at the Lake of Oaks that it came to pass
With the power of her druids’ wand a mighty spell she cast
From now you’ll take the shape of swans, and wild birds you will be
Nine hundred years will keep you on the lakes and on the sea
And over the wild waves flew the children of Lir
Down to the land of the ever living
This spell was laid upon them for nine hundred years
And till then there would be no returning
In the first three hundred years you’ll be trapped upon this shore
Then northward to the Sea of Moyle for yet three hundred more
Then to the stormy Atlantic, the waters chill and deep
And in the Bay of Eris waves will rock you as you sleep
And when a queen from the South goes North to wed a king
And when you first reach dry land and you hear a lone bell ring
And when you find the lake of birds only then will you be free
But until then this mighty curse will keep you far from me
Across the winds of time the four swan children flew
And for the next nine hundred years only gales and storms they knew
Their beds were on the crest of waves and upon the rocky shore
And they keened a sad lament for all that had gone before
A new age dawned upon the land, strangers to the Isle had come
Into the Hollow hills and mounds the Faerie folk had gone
So to the lake of Birds they flew high on snowy wings
To be free of the curse and hear a lone bell ring
And like wind striping leaves from trees their swan bodies fell away
Their sweet singing voices stilled all turned to dust and clay
Blessings go with you Children of Lir beyond nine waves now fly
And their spirits made a final flight against the fading sky.
And over the wild waves flew the children of Lir
Down to the land of the ever living
This spell was laid upon them for nine hundred years
And till then there would be no returning
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5. |
Waking Beauty
03:11
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Instrumental
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6. |
The Sheringham Mermaid
07:09
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Let blow the winds my bonnie lads come sail upon my sea
Beware you of the angry wave that drives your ship to me
Where the ocean boils and the current roils and the salty tides do flow
I’ll await you in my chamber cool below, below, below
She searches for treasures in the sand
Along a ragged wave torn shore line
Rusty comb and mirror in her hand
Crystals on her lips of salty brine
And through the chill twilight the sea-maid sings
From the storm see what the cold tide brings
She’ll offer you treasures from below
But there’s darker things beneath the waves than you could ever know
Let blow the winds my bonnie lads come sail upon my sea
Beware you of the angry wave that drives your ship to me
Where the ocean boils and the current roils and the salty tides do flow
I’ll await you in my chamber cool below, below, below
There’s a calling from the siren of the deep
Her silver scales and lily-white breasts shining
The secrets of Atlantis she will keep
Veiled behind a smile that’s so beguiling
May you catch the fair winds in your sails
To steer far from tempest and from gales
For that beauty with her face pale as the moon
Will call you to rocks and see you to your doom
Let blow the winds my bonnie lads come sail upon my sea
Beware you of the angry wave that drives your ship to me
Where the ocean boils and the current roils and the salty tides do flow
I’ll await you in my chamber cool below, below, below
‘Tis a soulful song that journeys with the tide
from land beneath the sea a cry of yearning
Across the waves where wild, white horses ride
Once cast adrift there can be no returning
Now the sea-witch has you in her thrall
She’s cast her spell, you’ve answered to the call
Now watch your life dance before your eyes
For below the sea you cannot breath and that’s where your fate now lies.
Let blow the winds my bonnie lads come sail upon my sea
Beware you of the angry wave that drives your ship to me
Where the ocean boils and the current roils and the salty tides do flow
I’ll await you in my chamber cool below, below, below
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7. |
Isle of Apples
00:57
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There is an isle of apples across the distant sea
Encircled by white horses, forever riding free
Pale and fragrant blossoms nod gently in the breeze
Where music is enchanting so you may rest with ease
Golden horses, silver chariots - racing for the sport
Chances, and games to play, and treasures to be sought
Crystal drops and dragon stones are hidden in the maze
The green isle of apples awaits your longing gaze
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8. |
Faeries Welcome
00:25
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Instrumental bridge
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9. |
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Once upon a time in a land beneath a dream
Fountains learned the Song of a Faery sea
Echoing laughter glimmering in their gleam
Run, run an’ row to the City of Alderbee!
Would you be an imp on the barge of a water-street?
Sail into a shell with the memory of a leaf?
Listen down, listen long, to the Lorelei of the Deep,
Shimmer oh shingle, nymph an’ nixie ‘neath...
From the waterfall to the lake of Antiquity
Songpool flow, awaken Lemurian trees,
Come, come along with the paladin of the free
Can, can you hear the fountains of Alderbee?
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10. |
Music Box
00:24
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Instrumental
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11. |
The Sylvan Doorway
04:13
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Green shadows bow to the rising sun
By the way the ancient track way runs
Cool mist dances in the morning light
And skips around the stones
He walks upon the forest path
The antlered one with oaken staff
Stories lie where his feet pass
Among the roots and rocks and bones
The legend whispers through the leaves
Visions in the sunlight weave
The waking of the day reveals
Where the magic lies
On the threshold between the worlds he stands
Guardian of these hidden lands
The greenwood’s call at his command
‘tween water earth and sky
Spirits of the wild the ancient folk
Who dwell beneath the leafy cloak
Of eucalypt red gum elm and oak
And dance the shadowed pathway
Hear the dreaming lines they sing
In this realm of the woodland king
You know the Green Man’s song will bring
You through the sylvan doorway
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12. |
Gwyllion
03:53
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Stony is her stair
where brambles grow;
Ponies wild and fair
would pass by Gwyllion
Lonely is her lair
where horsemen lie;
Eyes behind her hair
is waiting Gwyllion:
Dilly-bag bounty, carry the brain
Billy or Tamlin - what was your name?
Tig Tag Toe, and wouldn’t you know?
Nimble my ride to ramble row!
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13. |
Goblin Laughter
00:11
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Instrumental bridge
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14. |
King Orfeo
05:30
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There lived a lady in the West
Green the wood grows early
Her name was Lady Liza Bell
Where the stag runs yearly
The king he has a hunting gone
Green the wood grows early
Left his lady all alone
Where the stag runs yearly
The Elfin knight took out his dart
Green the wood grows early
Pierced poor Liza to the heart
Where the stag runs yearly
When the king came home at noon
Green the wood grows early
He asked for Lady Liza Bell
Where the stag runs yearly
His nobles unto him they said
Green the wood grows early
She first was wounded now she's dead
Where the stag runs yearly
He’s away into the wood
Green the wood grows early
And there upon a stone he stood
Where the stag runs yearly
He sat there for seven years
Green the wood grows early
‘Till a company to him drew near
Where the stag runs yearly
Some did ride and some did run
Green the wood grows early
He saw his lady them among
Where the stag runs yearly
The company then made their way
Green the wood grows early
And He took out his harp to play
Where the stag runs yearly
First he played the notes of Noy
Green the wood grows early
And then he played the notes of Joy
Where the stag runs yearly
Then he played the Gaber reel
Green the wood grows early
That would make a sick heart heal
Where the stag runs yearly
The Elfin Knight to him did say
Green the wood grows early
What shall I give thee for thy play?
Where the stag runs yearly
For my play I will thee tell
Green the wood grows early
I'll have my Lady Liza Bell
Where the stag runs yearly
You can take your lady home
Green the wood grows early
And you'll be king of all you own
Where the stag runs yearly
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15. |
Honeydew Melancholy
02:20
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Instrumental
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16. |
Bell Tree Swirl
00:10
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Instrumental bridge
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17. |
Fae Dance
04:39
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In a ruby sunset
Hidden in the darkling leaves
The winds of night will take you
Into a twilight dream
Step onto the old path
To where it may be leading
Flames leap to firing life
Rising and receding
Beneath the cool earth
New life’s beginning
Cold of dark and warmth of light
The barrier is thinning
Glowing in the firelight
This magic place before us
Come dance and set your spirit free
Sing the long night’s chorus
Dance dance weave and spin
Do you know the place you’re in?
This is where it all begins
In this land so wild and fae
Come closer to the fire bright
Flames will give you second sight
Welcome to this endless night
For you’ve come to the land of faerie
Dark strangers bid you welcome
To the forest of your dreams
Time waits in stillness
And nothing’s as it seems
Come trace the labyrinth
Reality has ceased to be
A Rowan staff beats the time
And sings with energy
The night sighs deeply
It has a secret to tell
On a Jasmine scented breeze
Her voice will weave the spell
Her song will carve a rune
Her spirit will sing the rhyme
And with an endless rhythm
You’ll dance the tune of time
Dance dance weave and spin
Do you know the place you’re in?
This is where it all begins
In this land so wild and fae
Come closer to the fire bright
Flames will give you second sight
Welcome to this endless night
For you’ve come to the land of faerie
Sister of the greenwood
Of earth and sky
Spirits of the sacred grove
This realm within you bide
The wild folk beat their drums
A call to the knowing
Dancing to the ancient beat
Feel your wildness flowing
Weave the moon steal the stars
Think not of morning
But now it’s time to sing you home
A new day is dawning
There’s only embers left
From the fire that stirred your soul
And the sylvan echo
Of her voice from long ago
Dance dance weave and spin
Do you know the place you’re in?
This is where it all begins
In this land so wild and fae
Come closer to the fire bright
Flames will give you second sight
Welcome to this endless night
For you’ve come to the land of faerie
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18. |
Fai
02:57
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How now, o’ spirit! Whither wander you?
Over thine hills, over yonder dale
On through the bushes, on, on through the briar,
Over park, over pale,
Through flood, through fire
I do wander
I do wander everywhere
Swifter than the Moon!
(Yes, even the Orb’s sphere)
Here … Hear …
Bring your fey favours, loll in sweet sloth;
Sleek Midnight savours, vapours of the broth
Oberon blinks bees, passing fell an’ wrath -
Hang a pearl in every ear!
(Every dewy cowslip’s ear)
There’s a changeling in the Moon,
And your dream cat taps the Loom
And she’s here,
Black Djinn spins near
And she’s far,
Dancing with stars …
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19. |
Fai Echo
00:26
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Instrumental bridge
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20. |
Sleeping Kingdom
02:27
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Instrumental
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21. |
Dragon Swish
00:11
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Instrumental bridge
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22. |
Dunsany's Hope
05:31
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I’ve been hovering near the border
drawn by Memory and Sound
Ever near the Dreaming, calling Elfland:
Alam al-Mithal, Alam al-Mithal, the Wind and Tallow
Like a child with a treasure
but no age nor wisdom to protect it -
Rare as coral it was stolen,
painted like a clown, abused and broken
Now I hear and I obey! (the fear is at bay, the fear is at bay)
For I catch the glimpses fey! (be not afraid, they say be not afraid)
I’ll prepare to make my way! (the past is away, the past is away)
Oh those hills have called me long and I must answer...
Never far from the border,
though the Realms are ebbing, still they hold me -
Alam al-Mithal, Alam al-Mithal, the Dream is over
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23. |
A Time
01:44
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Once upon a time and far, far away
Over the seas where enchantments lay
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North Moon Australia
In Tree Time, three Celtic-Australians wove music with myth and fairytale. From Druidic circles to taverns, carnivals, fey indie labels, fairy shops, storytelling guilds, castles and audiobook soundtracks, they've fostered links between folklore and eco-spirituality. Hailing from three States of Australia, they joined webs at the Equinox, north of the moon. ... more
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