THE MUSIC OF THE DALES
Prophecy
Lord Gorum
2. I’ve been far afoot, with my staff in my hand,
The bull, the bear, the cat, and the hound,
I have been out walking my dead father’s land,
And the brothers have pulled me down.
3. I looked in the mountains, I looked in the sea,
The bull, the bear, the cat, and the hound,
A-looking for someone a-looking for me,
And the brothers have pulled me down.
4. What have ye for supper, Lord Gorum, my son?
The bull, the bear, the cat, and the hound,
What have ye for supper, my pretty young one?
And the brothers have pulled me down.
5. I’ve nothing for supper and nothing to rise,
The bull, the bear, the cat, and the hound,
But fed on the look in my own true love’s eyes,
And the brothers have pulled me down.
6. What will ye leave to that true love, my son?
The bull, the bear, the cat, and the hound.
What will she leave you, my handsome young one?
And the brothers have pulled me down.
7. My kingdom, my crown, my name, and my grave,
The bull, the bear, the cat, and the hound,
Her hair, her heart, her place in the cave,
And the brothers have pulled me down.
Lullaby to the Cat’s Babe
The Ballad of White Jenna
2. Thirty and three rode side by side,
And by the moonlight fortified.
“Fight on, my sisters,” Jenna cried.
“Fight for the Great White Alta.”
3. The blood flowed swift, like good red wine,
As sisters took the battle line.
“This kingdom I will claim for mine
And for the heart of Alta!”
4. Thirty and three rode out that day
To hold the dreaded foe at bay,
But never more they passed this way
Led by the hand of Jenna.
5. Yet still, some say, in darkest night,
The sisters can be heard to fight
And you will see a flash of white
The long white braid of Jenna.
The Ballad of the Selden Babe
2. A maiden went to Seldentown,
A maid no more was she,
Her hair hung loose about her neck,
Her gown about her knee,
A babe was slung upon her back,
A bonny babe was he.
3. She went into the clearing wild,
She went too far from town,
A man came up behind her
And he cut her neck around,
A man came up behind her
And he pushed that fair maid down
4. “And will ye have your way wi’ me,
Or will ye cut me dead,
Or do ye hope to take from me
My long-lost maidenhead?
Why have ye brought me far from town
Upon this grass-green bed?”
5. He never spoke a single word,
Nor gave to her his name,
Nor whence and where his parentage,
Nor from which town he came,
He only thought to bring her low
And heap her high with shame.
6. But as he set about his plan,
And went about his work,
The babe upon the maiden’s back
Had touched her hidden dirk,
And from its sheath had taken it
All in the clearing’s mirk.
7. And one and two, the tiny hands
Did fell the evil man,
Who all upon his mother had
Commenced the wicked plan.
God grant us all such bonny babes
And a good and long life span.
Alta’s Song
2. But from that mother I was torn,
Fire and water and all,
And to a hillside I was borne,
Great Alta take my soul.
3. And on that hillside was I laid,
Fire and water and all,
And taken up all by a maid,
Great Alta save my soul.
4. And one and two and three we rode
Fire and water and all,
Till others took the heavy load,
Great Alta take my soul.
5. Let all good women hark to me,
Fire and water and all,
For fostering shall set thee free,
Great Alta save my soul,
Come Ye Women
