*Choose Wisely*
By Rathflaed DuNoir
The Black Bard of Meridies, MSoB
mka: Stephen R. Melvin
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| Chorus: .mp3 (222K) |
| "Choose Wisely" is performed by Rathflaed DuNoir |
| Please refer to Cantaria's Copyright information |
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This song is based on a story told to me by Ld. Efenwealt Wystle, MSoB and
recounted to him by Ld. Taliesin Peregrentor, MSoB. There is an A part and a
B part to this song. The verses are labeled accordingly.
A:
Dm G D He wandered the lands North to South, East and West, Dm C And the
people all claimed that his songs were the best, Dm G He'd grown up a harper
no merchant or blade, Am Dm With magic and music the tools of his trade.
A) He traveled the forest, he walked through the hills,
He wandered the length of the land if you will,
His name it was known from the hills to the sea,
And even was known to the sidhe.
A) One night as he traveled from village to town,
He passed by the place where the good folk lie down,
His name it was called from the woodlands behind,
He turned round in fear of the sights he would find.
A)"We've heard your songs," said the messenger there,
"And we bring you a message to mortals most rare,
The greatest of all of the treasures we keep,
A pathway beyond to the world after sleep."
A)"And how can this be," asked the bard of the elf,
"That I should be called to the fey with yourself?"
"Tis not to our lands that your journey does lead."
And he tossed down a scroll at the poor young man's feet.
A)"There is the key," said the elf to the bard,
" To our home is easy, but your way is hard,
Learn well the song that you see on the deed."
As the sidhe disappeared, the bard opened to read.
B:
Dm G Dm Sing of the woodlands and sing of the dance, Dm C Sing of the
wonders you find just by chance, Dm G C Dm Sing of the places that man's
rarely seen, Dm G Dm Dm G Dm Sing of the lady in green, sing of the lady in
green.
A) As the man read the words, they faded from sight,
And the song burned itself on his mind throughout the night,
He lifted his harp and he raised up his voice,
For he knew that his journey had left him no choice.
B) He sang of the woodlands and sang of the dance,
He sang of the wonders you find just by chance,
He sang of the places that man's rarely seen,
He sang of the lady in green, yes he sang of the lady in green.
A) And there in the woodlands the air split in twain,
Accompanied by thunder and lightning and rain!
He stepped down the path that had opened before,
'Til he came to a great hall and knocked on the door.
A) The door opened up and they welcomed him home,
To the place he had searched for, the reason he roamed,
And he stayed there a twelvemonth, a year and a day,
Till he learned there the magic, the music does play.
A) Then the lady in green said before he returned,
"One wish can we give you, no more can you earn,
But choose your gift wisely lest something you lack,
And we'll see you no more till the day you come back."
A) Then the man said, "My lady you do me right well,
And I'll make my choice whether fair or for fell,
You've told me there's no way I'll find back to here,
For so long as I live and that's what I fear."
A) But I have the music and I have the song,
And I'll keep on searching no matter how long,
There's no place on earth that the gateway can hide,
The gift that I ask for is never to die!"
A) Then the tears flowed quite freely from the great lady's eyes,
"'Tis no gift you ask, but a bane!" she did cry,
"This place is called heaven and your place you did earn,
But only the dead here can ever return,"
A)"And now you must wander forever on earth,
Still searching to find the true land of your birth,
And no fate can kill you no matter how fell,
We showed you to heaven, and you chose your hell."
A) But lady I knew not!" the bard he cried back.
And woke on the ground with his harp at his back,
And cried out in anguish, he knew it no dream,
For the song through his mind and his memories screamed.
A) And now I must wander forever alone,
For my lady and fam'ly are at my true home,
I can open the gateway whenever I sing,
But only my sadness and tears will it bring.
B) For I sing of the woodlands, I sing of the dance,
I sing of the wonders I've found just by chance,
But I can't cross the gateway to the places I've seen,
And I can't touch my lady in green, no I can't touch my lady in green.
13 January 1998