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The Witch of the Westmereland

from A Gypsy's Home by Alexander James Adams

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Sarah Minehan
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Amber Z. Gordon
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    Songs and tunes for traveling on the road with not a care in the world and all the freedom you can claim.

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lyrics

THE WITCH OF THE WESTMERELAND
Music & Lyrics: Archie Fisher
(with permission)
Arrangement: Heather Alexander

Pale was the wounded knight,
That bore the rowan shield-
Loud and cruel, the raven's cries,
That feasted in the field-
Sayin' "Beck water cold and clear,
Will never clean your wound!
There's none but the witch of the Westmereland
Can make ye hail and sound!"

"Then course well, my brindled hound,
And fetch me the mountain hare-
Whose coat is as green as the west water,
Or as white as the lily fair!"
It said, "Green moss and heather bands,
Will never staunch the flood."
"There's none but the witch of the Westmereland's
Can save thy dear life's blood!"
"So turn, turn your stallion's head
'Til his red mane flies in the wind-
And the rider of the moon goes by
And the bright star falls behind!"

And clear was the palely moon,
When his shadow passed him by-
Below the hills were the brightest stars,
When he heard the owlet cry-
Sayin' "Why do you ride this way?
And wherefore came ya here?"
"I seek the witch of the Westmereland
That dwells by the winding mire!"
"Then fly free your good gray hawk
To gather the goldenrod,
And face your horse into the clouds
Above yon gay green woods!"

And it's weary, by the Ullswater,
And the Misty Breakfern Way-
'Til through a cleft in the Kirkstan Pass,
The Winding Water lay-
He said, "Lie down, me brindled hound,
And rest ye, my good gray hawk."
"And thee, my steed, may graze thy fill
For I must dismount and walk.
But come, when you hear my horn,
And answer swift the call!
For I fear 'er the sun will rise this day
You will serve me best of all!"

And it's down to the water's brim,
He's born the rowan shield-
And the goldenrod, he has cast in,
To see what the lake might yield-
And wet, rose she from the lake,
Full fast and fleet went she-
One half the form of a maiden fair,
With a jet-black mare's body-
And loud, long and shrill he blew,
'Til his steed was by his side-
High overhead, the gray hawk flew,
And swiftly he did ride-
Saying "Course well, me brindled hound!"
"Fetch me the jet-black mare!"
"Stoop and strike, me good gray hawk,
And bring me the maiden fair!"

She said, "Pray, sheathe thy silvery sword,
Lay down thy rowan shield-
For I see by the briney blood that flows
You've been wounded in the field!"
And she stood in a gown of velvet blue,
Bound round with a silver chain-
She's kissed his pale lips once and twice,
Three times round again-
And she's bound his wounds with the goldenrod,
Full fast in her arms he lay-
And he has risen hail and sound,
With the sun high in the day!
She said, "Ride with your brindled hound at heel,
And your good gray hawk in hand!
There's none can harm a knight who's lain
With the witch of the Westmereland!"

Sea Fire Productions Inc p 2001

credits

from A Gypsy's Home, released April 1, 2001
Vocal, Guitar, Fiddle, Bodhran: Heather Alexander
Bass: Andrew Hare
Drums: Dan Ochipinti

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Alexander James Adams image

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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