One of the many variations of the murder ballad from Francis J
Child's extensive collection, also known as The Cruel Mother.
lyrics
A meenister's dochter in the north,
(fine flooers in the Valley)
she's fa'en in love wi' her faither's clerk,
(and the green leaves they grouew rarely)
She's coortit him a year and a day,
till her the young man did betray,
She leaned her back agin a tree,
and there the tear did blin' her e'e.
She leaned her back agin a thorn,
and there twa bonnie boys has she born.
She's ta'en the napkin frae her neck,
and made tae them a winding sheet.
She's ta'en oot her wee penknife,
and quickly twined them o their life.
She's laid them 'neath a marble stane,
thinking tae gang a maiden hame.
She lookit ower her faither's wa',
and she's seen twa bonnie boys at the ba'.
'O bonnie bairns, gin ye were mine,
I would dress ye in the silk sae fine'.
'O cruel mither, when we were thine,
we didna see ocht o silk sae fine'.
'O bonnie bairns, come tell tae me,
whit kind o a daith I'll hae tae dee'.
'Seiven years a fish in the flood,
seiven years a bird in the wood.
Seiven years a tongue tae the warning bell,
seiven years in the caves o hell'.
'Welcome, welcome, fish in the flood,
welcome, welcome, bird in the wood.
Welcome tongue tae the warning bell,
but God keep me frae the caves o hell'.
credits
from Big Like This,
released October 15, 2012
Lead Vocal: Corrina Hewat
Backing Vocals: Annie Grace, Ewan Robertson, Calum MacCrimmon
Flugelhorn solo: Ryan Quigley
I recommend the video "Breabach (the making of) Ùrlar): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmJWn3wEwMw
Wonderful tune (live):
"Scotland's Winter / Farley Bridge" (on Breabach's CD "Bann") in a really incredible and emotionally touching presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Okgjp-7k8x4
Also: The video by Breabach "Making of Bann" is good: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJa0R96I8_8
I downloaded the CD "Bann" somewhere else, therefore the link is posted here. Werner Rohlfs
Celtic-inspired instrumentation, delicate harmonies, and reflective lyrics abound on the sisterly indie-folk duo's debut album. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 26, 2023