Loreena McKennitt (83,01 %)

Elemental (73,73 %)

In collection

Released: 1985
Type: Studio

Ranking:

Artist:

Year (1985):

Decade (1980's):

129

Overall:

642

Blacksmith

03:21

She Moved Through the Fair

04:05

Stolen Child

05:08

The Lark in the Clear Air

02:07

Carrighfergus

03:27

Kellswater

05:17

Banks of Claudy

05:37

Come by the Hills

03:04

Lullaby

04:28

Album length:

36:34

Lyrics

Blacksmith

A blacksmith courted me
Nine months and better
He fairly won my heart
Wrote me a letter
With his hammer in his hand
He looked quite clever
And if I was with my love
I'd live forever

But where is my love gone
With his cheeks like roses
And his good black billycock on
Decked round with primroses
I'm afraid the scorching sun
Will shine and burn his beauty
And if I was with my love
I'd do my duty

Strange news is come to town
Strange news is carried
Strange news flies up and down
That my love is married
I wish them both much joy
Though they can't bear me
And may God reward him well
For the slighting of me

Don't you remember when
You lay beside me
And you said you'd marry me
And not deny me
If I said I'd marry you
It was only for to try you
So bring your witness love
And I'll not deny you

No witness have I none
Save God Almighty
And may he reward you well
For the slighting of me

Her lips grew pale and wan
It made a poor heart tremble
To think she loved a one
And he proved deceitful

A blacksmith courted me
Nine months and better
He fairly won my heart
Wrote me a letter
With his hammer in his hand
He looked quite clever
And if I was with my love
I'd live forever

She Moved Through the Fair

My love said to me
"My mother won't mind
And me father won't slight you
For your lack of kind"
Then she stepped away from me
And this she did say
"It will not be long, love
Till our wedding day"

She stepped away from me
And she moved through the fair
And fondly I watched her
Move here and move there
And she went her way homeward
With one star awake
As the swans in the evening
Move over the lake

The people were saying
No two e'er were wed
But one has a sorrow
That never was said
And she smiled as she passed me
With her goods and her gear
And that was the last
That I saw of my dear

I dreamed it last night
That my true love came in
So softly she entered
Her feet made no din
She came close beside me
And this she did say
"It will not be long, love
Till our wedding day"

Stolen Child

Where dips the rocky highland
Of Sleuth Wood in the lake
There lies a leafy island
Where flapping herons wake
The drowsy water-rats
There we've hid our faery vats
Full of berries
And of reddest stolen cherries

Come away, O human child
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand
For the world's more full of weeping
Than you can understand

Where the wave of moonlight glosses
The dim grey sands with light
By far off furthest Rosses
We foot it all the night
Weaving olden dances
Mingling hands and mingling glances
Till the moon has taken flight
To and fro we leap
And chase the frothy bubbles
Whilst the world is full of troubles
And is anxious in its sleep.

Come away, O human child
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand
For the world's more full of weeping
Than you can understand

Where the wandering water gushes
From the hills above Glen-Car
In pools among the rushes
That scarce could bathe a star
We seek for slumbering trout
And whispering in their ears
Give them unquiet dreams
Leaning softly out
From ferns that drop their tears
Over the young streams

Come away, O human child
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand
For the world's more full of weeping
Than you can understand

Away with us he's going
The solemn-eyed
He'll hear no more the lowing
Of the calves on the warm hillside
Or the kettle on the hob
Sing peace into his breast
Or see the brown mice bob
Round and round the oatmeal chest.

Come away, O human child
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand
For the world's more full of weeping
Than you can understand

For he comes, the human child
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand
For the world's more full of weeping
Than you can understand

The Lark in the Clear Air

no lyrics yet

Carrighfergus

I wish I was in Carrighfergus
Only for nights in Ballygrant
I would swim over the deepest ocean
Only for nights in Ballygrant

But the sea is wide, and I can't swim over
Neither have I wings to fly
If I could find me a handsome boatman
To ferry me over to my love and die

Now in Kilkenny, it is reported
They've marble stones there as black as ink
With gold and silver I would transport her
But I'll sing no more now, till I get a drink

I'm drunk today, but I'm seldom sober
A handsome rover from town to town
Ah, but I am sick now, my days are over
Come all you young lads and lay me down

I wish I was in Carrighfergus
Only for nights in Ballygrant

Kellswater

Here's a health to you bonny Kellswater
Where you get all the pleasures of life
Where you get all the fishing and fowling
And a bonny wee lass for your wife

Oh it's down where yon waters run muddy
I'm afraid they will never run clear
And it's when I begin for to study
My mind is on him that's not here

And it's this one and that one may court him
But if any one gets him but me
It's early and late I will curse them
The parting lovely Willy from me

Oh a father he calls on his daughter
Two choices I'll give unto thee
Would you rather see Willie's ship a'sailing
See him hung like a dog on yonder tree

Oh father, dear father, I love him
I can no longer hide it from thee
Through an acre of fire I would travel
Along with the lovely Willie to be

Oh hard was the heartbreak I'm finding
She took from her full heart's delight
May the chains of old Ireland come find them
And softly their pillows at night

Oh yonder there's a ship on the ocean
And she does not know which way to steer
From the east and the west she's a'blowing
She reminds me of the charms of my dear

Oh it's yonder my Willie will be coming
He said he'd be here in the spring
And it's down by yon green shades I'll meet him
And among wild roses we'll sing

For a gold ring he placed on my finger
Saying love bear this in your mind
If ever I sail from old Ireland
You'll mind I'll not leave you behind

Here's a health to you bonny Kellswater
Where you get all the pleasures of life
Where you get all the fishing and fowling
And a bonny wee lass for your wife

Banks of Claudy

As I walked out one morning
All in the month of May
Down by a flowery garden
I carelessly did stray

I overheard a young maid
In sorrow did complain
All for her absent lover
Who ploughs the raging main

I boldly stepped up to her
And put her in surprise
I know she did not know me
I being in disguise

I says, "Me charming creature
My joy, my heart's delight,
How far have you to travel
This dark and dreary night"

"I'm in search of a faithless young man
Johnny is his name
And along the banks of Claudy
I'm told he does remain"

"This is the banks of Claudy
Fair maid, where you stand
But don't depend on Johnny
For he's a false young man

"Oh, don't depend on Johnny
For he'll not meet you here
But tarry with me in yon green woods
No danger need you fear

"Oh, it's six long weeks or better
Since Johnny left the shore
He's crossing the wild ocean
Where the foam and the billows roar

"He's crossing the wild ocean
For honour and for fame
But this I've heard, the ship was wrecked
All on the coast of Spain"

Oh it's when she heard this dreadful news
She flew into despair
By the wringing of her milk-white hands
And the tearing of her hair

Saying, "If Johnny he is drowned
No man on earth I'll take
But through lonesome groves and valleys
I'll wander for his sake"

Oh it's when he saw her loyalty
No longer could he stand
He flew into her arms saying
"Betsy, I'm the man"

Saying, "Betsy, I'm the young man
The cause of all your pain
But since we've met on Claudy banks
We'll never part again"

Come by the Hills

Come by the hills to the land
where fancy is free
And stand where the peaks meet the sky
and the rocks reach the sea
Where the rivers run clear and the bracken
is gold in the sun
And cares of tomorrow must wait
till this day is done

Come by the hills to the land
where life is a song
And sing while the birds fill the air
with their joy all day long
Where the trees sway in time, and even
the wind sings in tune
And cares of tomorrow must wait
till this day is done

Come by the hills to the land
where fancy is free
And stand where the peaks meet the sky
and the rocks reach the sea
Where the rivers run clear and the bracken
is gold in the sun
And cares of tomorrow must wait
till this day is done

Lullaby

O for a voice like thunder, and a tongue
To drown the throat of war! - When the senses
Are shaken, and the soul is driven to madness
Who can stand? When the souls of the oppressed
Fight in the troubled air that rages, who can stand?
When the whirlwind of fury comes from the
Throne of God, when the frowns of his countenance
Drive the nations together, who can stand?
When Sin claps his broad wings over the battle,
And sails rejoicing in the flood of Death;
When souls are torn to everlasting fire,
And fiends of Hell rejoice upon the stain.
O who can stand? O who hath caused this?
O who can answer at the throne of God?
The Kings and Nobles of the Land have done it!
Hear it not, Heaven, thy Ministers have done it!