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Description
This is an ancient English song about love, loss and talking to the dead. It's one of my all-time favourite folk songs ... spooky, ethereal and beautiful ... and we've brought it into the 21st century with an electro-acoustic arrangement. Hope you like it.
Rebsie: voices, Yamaha 12-string acoustic guitar, keyboards and software instruments
William: mandolin, bottleneck guitar, scary violin
Words and music: Traditional, arranged by Rebsie and William.
Rebsie: voices, Yamaha 12-string acoustic guitar, keyboards and software instruments
William: mandolin, bottleneck guitar, scary violin
Words and music: Traditional, arranged by Rebsie and William.
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Lyrics
(Time, an ever-rolling stream, bears all her sons away
They fly forgotten, as a dream dies at the breaking day)
Cold blows the wind to my true love
And gently drops the rain
I only had but one true love
In greenwood he lies slain
I'll do as much for my true love
As any young maid may
I'll sit and mourn all on his grave
For twelve months and one day
When twelve months and one day was past
The ghost began to speak
Why sit you here all on my grave
And will not let me sleep?
There's one thing that I want, sweetheart
There's one thing that I crave
And that is a kiss from your lily white lips
Then I'll go from your grave
My lips they are as cold as the clay
My breath smells earthly strong
And if you kiss my cold grey lips
Your days they won't be long
Go fetch me water from the desert
And blood from out of a stone
Go fetch me the milk from a fair maid's breast
A young man never has known
'Twas down in yonder garden
Where you and I would walk
The fairest flower that ever I saw
Is withered to a stalk
The stalk is withered and dry, sweetheart
And the flower will never return
And since I lost my own true love
What can I do but yearn?
When shall we meet again, sweetheart
When shall we meet again?
When the oaken leaves that fall from the trees
Are green and spring up again
Weep not for me my own true love
Mourn not for me, I pray
But make yourself content my love
Till God calls you away
They fly forgotten, as a dream dies at the breaking day)
Cold blows the wind to my true love
And gently drops the rain
I only had but one true love
In greenwood he lies slain
I'll do as much for my true love
As any young maid may
I'll sit and mourn all on his grave
For twelve months and one day
When twelve months and one day was past
The ghost began to speak
Why sit you here all on my grave
And will not let me sleep?
There's one thing that I want, sweetheart
There's one thing that I crave
And that is a kiss from your lily white lips
Then I'll go from your grave
My lips they are as cold as the clay
My breath smells earthly strong
And if you kiss my cold grey lips
Your days they won't be long
Go fetch me water from the desert
And blood from out of a stone
Go fetch me the milk from a fair maid's breast
A young man never has known
'Twas down in yonder garden
Where you and I would walk
The fairest flower that ever I saw
Is withered to a stalk
The stalk is withered and dry, sweetheart
And the flower will never return
And since I lost my own true love
What can I do but yearn?
When shall we meet again, sweetheart
When shall we meet again?
When the oaken leaves that fall from the trees
Are green and spring up again
Weep not for me my own true love
Mourn not for me, I pray
But make yourself content my love
Till God calls you away
Jim Bouchard
I liked this a lot. Very good singing and a really tastefull accompaniment. I think I'll fav this to download when I get home. It's a great song.
Minor nitpick (not meant to detract from the general excellence of the song): the solo section in the middle has a few minor timing problems that are a little distracting. But it could be an eccentricity of phrasing that is similar to some of the vocal lines, not uncommon in traditional music. I liked the instrumental thing tacked on at the end, but it sounded a little tacked on, and maybe that would've been better in the middle where the other solo was.