High Grows the Barley

[Dept of PMM Castle Life]

First released in '95, High Grows The Barley reflected my renaissance festival repertoire. Includes Fairy Queen (with me singing the lead), High Grows the Barley, John Barleycorn (seeing a theme here?), and Herne the Hunter (an old acoustic version).

 

HERNE THE HUNTER Lyrics

Green the woods at break of day

Yellow now the dawn

Silent is the forest but for

Herne the hunter's horn

There as I was walking

I met a hunting swain

Soon we fell a-talking

And these words I did say



Go you to the gay green woods

Thick with leaf and vine

Do you hunt the milk white stag

With ivy in its tines



Once I saw the milk white stag

Running by the way

With my bow and my good steed

I thought to give it chase

Cold as snow the sacred hide

His antlers thick with vine

Ever did he look at me

With fire in his eyes



Go you to the gay green woods

Thick with leaf and vine

Do you hunt the milk white stag

With ivy in its tines



Through the woods he gave me chase

Wet my horses sides

Ever did he look at me

With fire in his eyes

Till at last we came to rest

In a meadow thick with thorn

Just as I had him in my sights

I heard the hunter's horn



There stood Herne the hunter

Terrible and grey

And with a voice like thunder

These words to me did say

Well my friend you hunted now

The prey that I made thine

Know that if you hit your mark

Your soul's forever mine

I drew the string back to my ear

But fear was in my heart

Wild and high my arrow flew

Swiftly ran the hart

Breathlessly I turned around, but

Herne was there no more

My arrow it lay shattered on the

Brackened forest floor



Go you to the gay green woods

Thick with leaf and vine

Do you hunt the milk white stag

With ivy in its tines



So good swain you know I said

The pain that I endure

For Herne the hunter lives within

My heart forever more

And if you go a-hunting and you

Seek the milk white heart

Prepare to pledge your soul to Herne or

Put away your dart

And I will never hunt again

I curse my bow and dart

That kept me from the forest God

That lives within my heart



Go you to the gay green woods

Thick with leaf and vine

Do you hunt the milk white stag

With ivy in its tines

 

FAIRY QUEEN Lyrics

A vision of the ancient Queen Of The Night, leading the Wild Ride through the Autumn forest.

Midnight glance is silence glazed

Misty shroud the leaves entwine

Long the fruit on bow has blossomed

Laden heavy hang the vines

Silence still the west wind carries

The tangy taste of the distant sea

Dark and deep the nightshade berries

Twist about the burdened lea



The jingling bells are hardly noticed

First, so heavy is the night

Creeping slowly ever nearer

Bridled mare of deathly white

Now children in their beds of feather

Moan and dream the passing sound

An owl takes flight, a sprig of heather

Spills its burden to the ground



Fairy Queen that rides the darkness with

Softly jingling bridle bells

Shadow of the ancient Mother

That on the wings of autumn dwells

Fairy Queen that claims the harvest

Yours the red fruit of the vine

Mab the song is unforgotten

The misty air the leaves entwine

 

http://kennyklein.net/music.htm

 

One of these in stock here on the hearth @$15.00 + S/H&I Remember we are a road vendor and plastic wrapping does help, but things do get worn in boxes in travel and weather.