1. |
Harvest Season
02:39
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HARVEST SEASON
Music & Lyrics: Heather Alexander
A snap's within the summer wind
It teases at the ear
With warming glow in fields below
The harvest season's here
Soon leaves shall yield a brilliant shield
Of copper, gold and bronze
And rivers strain 'gainst summer rain
As daylight later dawns
COME GATHER GOLDEN HONEY
COME REAP THE TENDER CORN
AND WITH ME LAY IN NEW MOWN HAY
BEFORE THE WINTER'S BORN!
Come take my hand and work the land
Come labor side by side
We'll thresh the wheat and try to beat
The summer's ebbing tide
Our bones may ache, our backs may break
But labor's been well done
Pain will displace in your embrace
As with the fading sun
With straw stacked deep and none to reap
I turn my eyes to you
Your chest laid bare to warm night air
And sparkling as with dew
You meet my gaze through twilight haze
As evening starts to fall
I slyly plead that we should heed
The harvest season's call!
Sea Fire Productions Inc c&p 1994
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2. |
Stable Boy
02:46
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STABLE BOY
Music & Lyrics: Heather Alexander
WAY, HEY! LISTEN TO ME PLAY!
WON'T YOU THROW BUT A SHILLING OR A COPPER MY WAY?
TALES OF LIFE. LOVE, SORROW AND JOY
ARE THE SONGS THAT ARE SUNG BY THE STABLE BOY!
Well, I dream of the life of a bard on the road
Yet the wages they pay, would scarcely feed the load
So with hoe in my hand and with rake at my side
I would care after horses for the ladies to ride
Well, the farmer, he calls me into his big home
Sayin' "Pretty stable boy, on the road you now must roam!
Though you do fine work, I admit that is true,
I have found me a man who will work for half as you!"
Well, I woke the next morning, the sky was bright blue
And the farmer, he said, "There's a favour you must do!
I've a gathering of orphans with nowhere to be,
You must teach them to ride so that they can work for me!"
Well, we work every morning and ride every day
We muck out the stalls and we feed the horses hay
We're such excellent workers the foreman believes
I could own this estate with my band of little thieves!
Sea Fire Productions Inc c&p 1994
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3. |
Stolen Child
04:35
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STOLEN CHILD
Lyrics: William Butler Yeats
Music: Heather Alexander
Where dips the rocky highland
Of Sleuthwood-in-the-lake
There lies a leafy island
Where flapping herons wake
The drowsy water rats,
There we've hid our faerie vats
Full of berries, and of reddest stolen cherries!
COME AWAY, HUMAN CHILD!
TO THE WOODS AND WATERS WILD!
WITH A FAERIE 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
Far off by furthest Rosses
We foot it all the night
Weaving olden dances,
Mingling hands and mingling glances
Till the moon has taken flight!
Two and fro we leap!
And chase the frothy bubbles
While the world is full of troubles
And is anxious in it's sleep!
Where the wandering water gushes
From the hills above Glen Carr
In pools among the rushes
That scarce can bathe a star
We seek for slumbering trout
And whispering in their ears
Give them evil dreams!
Leaning softly out
From ferns that drop their tears
Of dew on the young streams!
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 unto his breast
Or see the brown mice bob
Round and round the oatmeal chest!
FOR HE COMES, HUMAN CHILD!
TO THE WOODS AND WATERS WILD!
WITH A FAERIE HAND IN HAND
FOR THE WORLD'S MORE FULL OF WEEPING
THAN HE CAN UNDERSTAND
Sea Fire Productions Inc c&p 1994
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4. |
John Barleycorn
04:25
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JOHN BARLEYCORN/ Drowsy Maggie/ Unfortunate Rake
Traditional lyrics and fiddle tunes
Music and arrangment by Heather Alexander
Let me tell a tale of my father's kin
For his blood runs through my veins
No man's been born that could best John Barleycorn
For he suffered many pains, he suffered many pains!
They've buried him well beneath the ground
And they've covered over his head
And these men from the west did solemnly attest
John Barleycorn was dead, John Barleycorn was dead!
But the warm spring rains came a pourin' down
And John Barleycorn arose
And upon that ground he stood without a sound
Til he began to grow, til he began to grow!
They've hired a man with a knife so sharp
For to cut him through the knees
And they've pitched Barleycorn and tied him down with thorn
And served him barbarously, they've served him barbarously!
And they've hired some men with crabtree sticks
For to beat him high and low
And the skin off his back, they then began to smack
Til the place began to blow, the place began to blow!
And they've ground his bones inbetween two stones
And they've served him worse than that
For they've tossed him into an oaken mashing bin
And they've sealed him in a vat, they've sealed him in a vat!
But John Barleycorn proved the stoutest man
Though they did all that they could
So raise up your horn in praise to Barleycorn
And we shall drink his blood, yes we shall drink his blood!
Sea Fire Productions Inc c&p 1994
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5. |
Pour Your Brother
03:57
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POUR YOUR BROTHER
Music & Lyrics: Heather Alexander
POUR YOUR BROTHER ONE MORE ROUND!
PICK EACH OTHER OFF THE GROUND!
LET ANOTHER CHORUS SOUND!
POUR YOUR BROTHER ANOTHER ROUND!
Draw another draft for me!
Drink til I'm too blind to see!
This one's done, pray get me three!
Draw another draft for me!
Cheers to the brewer for his brew!
Without this ale, we cannot do!
Drink until the cask is through!
Cheers to the brewer for his brew!
Cheers to the barmaid, she's a saint!
It's wondrous how she stands the straint!
Catch me, lass, I'm going to faint!
Cheers to the barmaid, she's a saint!
Dance unto the drummer's beat!
Drink with everyone ya meet!
Your head'll dance without your feet!
Dance unto the drummer's beat!
Here's to the lad upon my knee!
Heaven bound I soon will be!
It ain't a sin because it's free!
Here's to the lad upon my knee!
Here's to the Lords and to the Crown!
Here's to the Lady in the low-cut gown!
A shame it's not just a little more down!
Here's to the Lords and to the Crown!
Lassies say they never drink!
They're scrubbing pots and pans, you think
But they keep the mead below the sink!
Lassies say they never drink!
Pour your sister one more glass!
Catch the ale on the second pass!
Catch the lord with that wondrous .......!
Pour your sister one more glass!
Cheers unto my faithful friend!
For on this ale, his gold I'll spend!
The friendship and the song may end!
But cheers unto my faithful friend!
Sea Fire Productions Inc c&p 1994
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6. |
Faerie Queen
07:16
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FAERIE QUEEN
Verses: Philip Obermarck
Chorus and Music: Heather Alexander
One wintery night, a wondrous sight
I met while riding back
Returning from a ceiligh
With me fiddle in me pack
My horse, it stopped quite suddenly
Its ears began to twitch
He bucked and threw me, pack and all
Into a nearby ditch
I tried to rise, but then my eyes
Alighted on a scene
Of faerie creatures dancing by
Cavorting round thier queen
She'd been out hunting, it was plain
Delighted by her prize
And though he was enthralled to her
I knew his gentle eyes
I stood again a shouted
When they drew abreast of me
"I challenge you, for you have caught
My husband soon to be!"
They stopped and she gazed down at me
The queen astride her steed
"I see you have the courage, dear,
But skill is what you need!"
BE IT CARVED FROM OUT THE FINEST WOOD
OR STRUNG WITH SILVER STRING
ONLY MORTAL TRUST OR FAERIE DUST
CAN MAKE A FIDDLE SING!
"We each shall play and I will say
Which fiddle is played best.
And should you win, this mortal toy
I'll free without protest."
They handed her a violin
As black as she was fae
She placed her bow upon the strings
And then began to play-
My spirit low, I raised my bow
And knew not where to start
I looked within my lover's eyes
And then within my heart
My head was filled with mortal dreams
Of love beneath the moon
Of sun and rain and season's change
And so began my tune
I raised my head, my arms like lead
My heart ablaze once more
The faerie queen looked down at me,
Shaken to the core
"I've played for many centuries,
Yet by the stars above
You've taught me skill is not enough
It can't compare to love!"
Sea Fire Productions Inc c&p 1994
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7. |
Storyteller
04:44
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STORYTELLER
Lyrics & Music: Heather Alexander
I spin tales each day of this world full of wonder
I hear people say you can harvest the plunder
But as I reach out with a trembling hand
All the gold coins just turn into sand
I feel very weary, my temper is biting
I know I've grown leary and tired of the fighting
I pray every day that is all will be grand
But I sure could use help of your kind, friendly hand
PLEASE, STORYTELLER,
PULL A TALE FROM YOUR POCKET
SPIN ME A STORY FROM YOUR COAT TAIL SO BARE
MY HEART HAS TURNED COLD
MY DREAMS ARE TOO OLD
AND I NEED TO KNOW MAGIC'S STILL THERE
My own coat's too thin and I'm down to the lining
The spirit within, on itself is entwining
My colours are faded, my cuffs are both worn
And the seam down the back is all tattered and torn
I walk through your door, see the smile that won't tire
I sit on the floor with your dog by the fire
You guide me on walkways where the faerie lights burn
And I hope that I never return
Who'll keep the firelight bright when you're gone?
Who has the insight to help me go on?
You've taught me that stories once told can come true
And I hope that I tell them with magic like you
Sea Fire Productions Inc c&p 1994
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8. |
An Sceal
03:22
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9. |
Contraridance
04:14
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Original Instrumental Composed & Arranged by Heather Alexander
Sea Fire Productions Inc c&p 1994
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10. |
Neverland
04:49
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NEVERLAND
Music & Lyrics: Heather Alexander
Once we all were children
And so it was we'd play
But then you all grew up
And as adults you went away
And I was left alone here
Just as it used to be
No one but the lost boys
Tinkerbell and me
So I flew around the moon three times
And caught a falling star
And came into this world of mimes
To live just as you are
But all I found was pain here
And one thing that held true
That you did not believe in me
So I won't believe in you!
NEVER AGAIN!
TO DO AS ALL ADULTS HAVE DONE!
NEVER AGAIN!
WILL MY WORLD AND YOUR OWN BE ONE!
NEVER AGAIN!
WILL YOU HEAR WHEN THE CHILD WITHIN ME CRIES!
NEVER AGAIN!
NEVER IS WHERE MY HEART NOW LIES!
NEVERLAND!
NEVER IS WHERE MY HEART NOW LIES!
Neverland's well protected
Against all time and age
All schooling's been rejected
I'm not a parrot in a cage
Your minds are over-rated
Your spirits all are cowed
Here I'm not tolerated
And my freeedom's not allowed!
I've returned to Neverland
To play my favourite games
Forgotten is the pain at hand
And I don't remember names
There's indians and mermaids
Far better than a book
And if my interest in them fades
Well, there's always Captain Hook!
Sea Fire Productions Inc c&p 1994
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11. |
Wanderlust
05:20
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WANDERLUST
Lyrics: Philip Obermarck
Music: Heather Alexander
My time is up and the ship bell chimes
So raise a cup and think betimes
Of this poor sailor 'pon the sea
Who's passing is but memory
'Tis not that I would have you think
Of this but as a friendly drink
For with my heart I loved you truly
Though I'm forced to treat you cruely
FOR THE FEVER'S UPON ME
AND MY CAPTAIN IS CALLIN'
I CANNOT STAY WITH THEE
MY DESTINY'S CALLIN'
I'LL NEVER BE FREE
BUT I'LL DO WHAT I MUST
A CAPTIVE OF MY WANDERLUST
The tide has turned and so we sail
This brief sojourn has now grown stale
The wanderlust has me indeed
I care not where my travels lead
The Captain asks if I'm afeared
A smile tangled in his beard
His laughter tells me he must know
The pain that I now undergo
I cast my fate into the wind
I have no mate, nor kith, nor kin
For I must go where I am sent
A victim of self banishment
Orion has become my guide
And Venus is my willing bride
With wanderlust my fuel and feed
I roam the world as 'tis decreed
Sea Fire Productions Inc c&p 1994
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12. |
Raise a Glass
02:55
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RAISE A GLASS
Music & Lyrics: Heather Alexander
Faded is the dark of night,
And dawn awaits to rise-
Stars with their enchanted light,
Turn misty in the skies,
A parting glass, a last farewell,
A smile to light my way-
Before the sunlight casts it’s spell,
That changes night to day-
Come raise a glass with me my friend,
Come raise a glass to dawn,
Here’s wishing that tomorrow sends you
Shadows of my song-
Sea Fire Productions c&p 1994
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Alexander James Adams Redmond, Washington
A changling from the Land of Fae, Heather brings stories and songs from a world where magic never dies and anything can happen if you only believe.
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