Post by Dick Glasgow on Mar 25, 2009 9:09:11 GMT
Alan Day just sent me this song & with its Orkney connection, I felt sure folks here would enjoy reading the lyrics & hearing the song being sung by Alan.
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For the curious amongst you, here's a YouTube of Alan playing Monck's March
Alan also has a MySpace
Cheers
Dick
Based on a possible true story of Janet Forsyth The Orkney Sea Witch, around 1600.
Later reported to have been seen in a clothes shop in Manchester.
Apart from a bit of poetic licence the basic story in the song was taken down in detail from the story in a castle in Inverness, whilst on holiday.
The tune for the song had to wait for over twenty five years for me to get around to it.
Al
THE STORM WITCH by Alan Day
Through Summer nights and Winter storm,
a young girl weeps with love forlorn.
Her lover shanghyde one misty night,
waiting through days of dark and light,
listening to the barking of the caves,
the changing beating of the waves.
Remembering nights on Orkney sand,
walking lovingly hand in hand.
Through seas whipped up by an Autumn Gale,
a ship is seen with a broken sail.
The Villagers leap and dance about,
with salvage we'll be rich they shout.
The ship begins to search in vain,
for safety through that rocky main.
"I see a Mermaid" someone cries,
as a girl is see through tear stained eyes.
The sailors all crinnge back in fear,
as that lovely girl draws near.
In vain she searches that dreadful place,
all for to see her lovers face.
Through the storm that savage day,
she guides the ship to Odins Bay.
And men with faces racked with pain,
now begin to laugh again.
The Villagers seeing their safe return,
cry out "This Storm Witch, She must Burn.
Only a Witch in a magic boat,
in that storm could have stayed afloat".
In Strongsay Prison behind locked door,
with mice and rats upon the floor.
That poor young girl lies full awake,
to wait her fate upon the stake.
Suddenly through prison bars,
she sees a face among the stars
Her lovers face she sees again,
and shuts her eyes to ease the pain
A wall falls down she hears a shout,
A hand comes in to pull her out.
The men she saved from that stormy sea,
and her lover back to set her free.
Listen to ~ The Orkney Sea Witch
Later reported to have been seen in a clothes shop in Manchester.
Apart from a bit of poetic licence the basic story in the song was taken down in detail from the story in a castle in Inverness, whilst on holiday.
The tune for the song had to wait for over twenty five years for me to get around to it.
Al
THE STORM WITCH by Alan Day
Through Summer nights and Winter storm,
a young girl weeps with love forlorn.
Her lover shanghyde one misty night,
waiting through days of dark and light,
listening to the barking of the caves,
the changing beating of the waves.
Remembering nights on Orkney sand,
walking lovingly hand in hand.
Through seas whipped up by an Autumn Gale,
a ship is seen with a broken sail.
The Villagers leap and dance about,
with salvage we'll be rich they shout.
The ship begins to search in vain,
for safety through that rocky main.
"I see a Mermaid" someone cries,
as a girl is see through tear stained eyes.
The sailors all crinnge back in fear,
as that lovely girl draws near.
In vain she searches that dreadful place,
all for to see her lovers face.
Through the storm that savage day,
she guides the ship to Odins Bay.
And men with faces racked with pain,
now begin to laugh again.
The Villagers seeing their safe return,
cry out "This Storm Witch, She must Burn.
Only a Witch in a magic boat,
in that storm could have stayed afloat".
In Strongsay Prison behind locked door,
with mice and rats upon the floor.
That poor young girl lies full awake,
to wait her fate upon the stake.
Suddenly through prison bars,
she sees a face among the stars
Her lovers face she sees again,
and shuts her eyes to ease the pain
A wall falls down she hears a shout,
A hand comes in to pull her out.
The men she saved from that stormy sea,
and her lover back to set her free.
Listen to ~ The Orkney Sea Witch
For the curious amongst you, here's a YouTube of Alan playing Monck's March
Alan also has a MySpace
Cheers
Dick
