In 1972 Robin Williamson released "Myrrh", his first solo effort after the demise of "The Incredible String band".

One track stands out as a complete departure from anything you have ever heard before or since. Many ballads tell us tales of the Fairys and fairy abduction, but for the most part they tell their story from the perspective of the Humans involved and it is the fairys who purloin Human victims. 'The dancing of the Lord of Weir' turns that on it's head and tells us the tale of how a local Noble, The Lord of Weir, steals a Fairy Princess away to his castle keep and how her Fay Kin rescue her from bondage.

You can purchase the CD of this album from Amazon, and I heartily recommend that you do so. http://www.amazon.com/Myrrh-Robin-Williamson/dp/B0000011TW

Here is a copy of 'The Dancing of the Lord of Weir' to listen to, and the lyrics. I expect you will enjoy it's quirky otherworldness as much as I do.



In the third part of the year
when men begin to gather fuel against the
coming cold
hear hooves ring hard on frosty ground
begins our song

for centuries we lived alone high on the moors
herding the deer for milk and cheese for leather and horn
humans came seldom nigh
for we with our spells held them at bay
and they with gifts of wine and grain did
honor us

returning at evening from the great mountains
our red hoods ring with bells
lightly we run
until before our own green hill
there we did stand

she is stolen
she is snatched away
through watery meads straying our lovely
daughter
she of the wild eyes
she of the wild hair
snatched up to the saddle of the lord of Weir
who has his castle high upon a crag
a league away

upon the horse of air at once we rode
to where Weir's castle lifts like a crippled claw into the moon
and taking form of minstrels brightly clad
we paced upon white ponies to the gate
and rang thereon
"we come to sing unto my lord of Weir
a merry song."

into his sorry hall we stepped
where was our daughter bound near his chair
"come play a measure!"
"sir at once we will!"
and we began to sing and play
to lightly dance in rings and faster turn
no man within that hall could keep his seat
but needs must dance and leap
against his will

this was the way we danced them to the door
and sent them on their way into the world
where they will leap anain
till they think one kind thought
for all I know they may be dancing still

while we returned with our own
into our hall
and entering in
made fast
the grassy door.


Discuss!

Awesome! As soon as Uncle Sam sends me the cash he owes me I will be ordering some of his music

I've rarely seen much literature, ballads and what not from the POV of the faerie so this is a welcome alternative!

-Dawn

IM Sure that a few years back i did a gig with a folk band called Ember where we supported the incredible string band at a venue in bristol.
I think as well that Robin owns a recording studio in Cardiff where i did some work shortly after that gig

Jera
x

nope i got that last bit wrong *lol*
After checking photos online it was Lawson Dando's studio that i recorded at for an album of welsh folk songs about birds.
Sadly the album got put on hold because the singer ( a very talented lady called siwsan george) died before it was completed)

Jera
x