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The Quest (digital Album)

by Dora Darling

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1.
Caliburn 05:38
Spirits of this whispery wood, have cast her soul to sleep And by the rushing riverside her body slumbers deep. The fairy folk have made for her a bed of lichen green, And to the green woods took her home, The Merthin for to see. As time she passes, passes time, the river rushes deep The Merthin places in her hand the sword she mustn’t keep So down beneath the waves she waits for man to stir the mire For she must hold that sword aloft; The Caliburns lady So to the banks of this great lake an ancient war band came And from their midst their strides one man into the waters deep So at the heart of that great lake, the man and maiden meet; And Caliburn bursts through the waves, for he shall now be King And racing from this watery deep, for forests earthy air The lady of the lake she comes to stand betwixt the worlds. For Merthin and the fairy folk, A King and a Queen And waking by the riverside in green woods and between. As time she passes, passes time, Clear waters rushing free This gentle maid of fire was born, to every Century. She carries in her heart and soul The breath of mossy earth And in the green woods she shall find The Merthin and her kin, Forever in the green wood she shall rest with all her kin.
2.
Sword Song 05:52
Drawn slowly you shine, hold close to your heart, You stand in the fire light You dazzle your blade bright Singing your sword song Singing your sword song I am drawn to your fireside Hold close to your heart I hear all your stories And bask in your glories Singing your sword song Singing your sword song Hawkspeed, gathering storm, Keep the fire burning, in battle your stronger Hawkspeed, gathering storm, Keep the fire burning, returning you home, Keep the fire burning for singing sword song, Singing your sword song, singing your sword song Your strong build and tall, Hold close to your heart Eyes flash in the firelight, Sparks fly on the dark night Singing your sword song Singing your sword song Your sword is your passage, Hold close to your heart, And in battle you fight well, Chasing enemies to hell Singing your sword song Singing your sword song Hawkspeed, gathering storm, Keep the fire burning, in battle your stronger Hawkspeed, gathering storm, Keep the fire burning, returning you home, Keep the fire burning for singing sword song, Singing your sword song, singing your sword song Will you fight til you die, Hold close to your heart Cut down in the battle, Then to burn on the pyre Singing your sword song Singing your sword song Men bold, brave and tough Hold close to your heart Come fight down the ages, Singing your sword song Singing your sword song Hawkspeed, gathering storm, Keep the fire burning, in battle your stronger Hawkspeed, gathering storm, Keep the fire burning, returning you home, Keep the fire burning for singing sword song, Singing your sword song, singing your sword song Singing your sword song, singing your sword song Singing, singing, singing, singing your sword song Singing your sword song.
3.
Lord Rendal 04:37
Oh Where did you go to Rendal my son? Oh where did you go my sweet pretty one? I've been to my sweetheart, o make my bed soon I'm sick to my heart and fain would lie down Oh what did she give to you, Rendal my son? Oh what did she give you my sweet pretty one? She gave me some eels, o make my bed soon I'm sick to my heart and fain would like down Where did she get them from, Rendal my son? Oh where did she get them my sweet pretty one from hedges and ditches, o make my bed soon I'm sick to my heart and fain would like down What colour were they Rendal my son? Oh what colour were they my sweet pretty one? They were spiket and sparket, o make my bed soon I'm sick to my heart and fain would like down Where are your blood hounds gone, Rendal my son? Oh where are your blood hounds my sweet pretty one? They swelled and they died, o make my bed soon I'm sick to my heart and fain would like down That was strong poison, Rendal my son That was strong poison my sweet pretty one You'll die, you'll die Oh Rendal my son You'll die, you'll die my sweet pretty one.
4.
There were three ravens sat in a tree, Down a down hey down a down They were as black as black might be With a down, The one said unto his mate, "where shall we our breakfast take?" With a down, derry derry derry derry derry down Down in yonder green field Down a down hey down a down There lies a knight slain under his shield With a down His hounds they lie down at his feet, so well do they their master keep With a down, derry derry derry derry derry down HIs hawks they fly so easily Down a down hey down a down No other fowl dare come his nigh with a down And by there comes a fallow doe, as heavy with young as she might go With a down, derry derry derry derry derry down She lifted up his bloody head Down a down hey down a down She kissed his wounds that were so red With a down She got him up onto her back, and carried him to an earthen lake With a down, derry derry derry derry derry down She hurried him before the prime Down a down hey down a down She was dead herself ere evensong time With a down God send every gentleman such hawks, such hounds and such sweetheart With a down, derry derry derry derry derry down
5.
The Unicorn 07:48
In the middle of the night the unicorn came And she followed him out in the wind and the rain No other saw them pass silently by, Though his heavenly brightness it shone like a star The peace of the unicorn deep in her heart She was part of his magic as stone is of earth. Days passed into weeks as they ran through the land, Crossing mountains and hot desert sands Til they came to the moors on a moonlit night Through swirling fog she followed his light And so by a shore they came silently there She laid her head gently on his breast Twas then that the unicorn turned around and sang This is the place where al life began And these are the doors to my mothers land, Be sure that you wish for to part from this world For nothing can save you not silver nor gold And all will become what you wish to behold These are but stepping-stones into another land, The mist she pulls you on with her icy hand Tread carefully child, but slip and be lost, For so many others their lives it has cost Tis clear to me now to this world you belong, You called from the other with such beautiful song And all of her passion and all of her pain, Slipped through the fog and the wind and the rain She glowed with such brightness as a heavenly star A new being of lightness with a unicorns horn And now she can sing from dusk until dawn For in the magical realm she’s reborn.
6.
Saucy Sailor 02:12
Come my own one, come my fair one, Come now unto me, Could you fancy a poor sailor lad Who has just come from sea. You are ragged love, you are dirty love, And your clothes smell much of tar, So be gone you saucy sailor lad, So be gone you Jack Tar. If I am ragged love and I am dirty love, And my clothes smell much of tar, I have silver in my pocket love And gold in great store. And then when she heard him say so On her bended knees she fell, I will marry my dear Henry For I love a sailor lad so well. Do you think that I am foolish love, Do you think that I am mad, For to wed with a poor country girl Where no fortune's to be had. I will course the briny ocean, I will whistle and sing, And since you have refused the offer love Some other girl shall wear the ring. I am frolicksome, I am easy, Good tempered and free, And I don’t give a single penny boys, What the world thinks of me.
7.
By the shores of the endless sea, was heard the tale of his love for she As she walked across the sand, the shuttle spins under her fine hand Come home to me, my man of the sea Home to my heart for ere we must part Bring home my lover to me. As she wandered that lonely shore, as he walked some far distant moor, Sun and moon passed by over head, she wove her songs on her silver thread Roam and be free my man of the sea Travel the land as I sing on the sand, Weaving my love for thee As he walked on beneath the stars, held her heart close to his breast Distant voices upon the wind, carried the news of her love to him Hold fast for me, sweet maid by the sea, Weaving our love on a silver thread Oh how my arms ache for thee. One fine day as she walked the sand, the last silver thread passed from her hand There she stood in such fine array, burning bright as a summers’ day She saw how the sea parted for he, She sang on the sand and she glowed with the land Forever eternally free.
8.
The Quest 04:40
In the fading light of day, neath a golden sunset, She saddled her grey mare to head for the west, And O her wooden heart cried long in her chest She’s held up her broad sword and taken up her final quest. In the forest of the sun the trees all have eyes And the beasts that lie in wait shall catch all who run Her armour must come off for it rings out in the gloom The beasts that hunt her there would swallow her too soon Through the rushing river deep, she had quickly to pass But her sword it weighed her down to the watery grave She let it drift away her precious broad sword Her wooden heart was glad, With each moment her spirit grew. The banks they were so steep that she could not crawl out Her shield caught the waves so untie it she must So resting on the bank with her bonny grey mare Her wooden heart did beat Her breath her lungs were filled anew. The marshes were so dark and still was the air Spirits twist and turn to kiss her cheeks fair And in the bog she sank, so too her grew mare Her breast-plate she took off on solid ground she laid bare. And facing now the task of holding the truth, In her naked ness she stood upon the dragons tooth Her wooden heart did beat so fast in her chest As within the jaws she stood of every dragons lovers heart So through the darkest night this maid was laid bare, And when the sun arose her heart it was flesh Sword and shield and mare appeared by her side And into the glowing day this brave maiden did ride. Yes into the glowing day this brave maiden did ride. Fools chase gold, and brave hearts hold Love is like the moon and love will heal your wooden heart.
9.
Sunshine 05:01
For here's where the sun shines And here's where the sky is blue My heart is where the birds do sing My peace comes from within.
10.
Regret not me; Beneath the sunny tree I lie uncaring, slumbering peacefully. Swift as the light I flew my faery flight; Ecstatically I moved, and feared no night. I did not know That heydays fade and go, But deemed that what was would be always so. I skipped at morn Between the yellowing corn, Thinking it good and glorious to be born. I ran at eves Among the piled up sheaves, Dreaming, 'I grieve not, therefore nothing grieves.' Now soon will come The apple, pear and plum, And hinds will sing and autumn insects hum. Again you will fare To cider-makings rare, And junketings; but I shall not be there. Yet gaily sing Until the pewter ring Those songs we sang when we went gipsying. And lightly dance Some triple-timed romance In coupled figures, and forget mischance; And mourn not me Beneath the yellowing tree; For I shall mind not, slumbering peacefully.

credits

released March 18, 2020

Dora Darling: Vocals, Guitar, Whistles and a wee bit of fiddle.
Jenny Bliss: Violin on Caliburn, The Unicorn, The Endless Sea, Sunshine.
Helen Blackburn: Violin on Regret Not Me.
So Much Gratitude to Nathan Lewis Williams for all his hard work.

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Dora Darling England, UK

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