Get all 7 Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman releases available on Bandcamp and save 40%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of The Collection, Almost A Sunset, On Reflection, Hidden People, Personae, Tomorrow Will Follow Today, and 2.
1. |
Huldra
03:23
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Huldra
One girl likes to dress in red
with ribbons in her hair.
She dances like a summer breeze
as light as morning air.
The other likes to dress in white
and run so speedily,
and sing so sweetly she can charm
the birds down from the trees.
One girl likes to catch your eye
and quickly look away,
she teases with a gentle smile
and holds you in her sway.
The other likes to take your hand
and lead you through the night,
and lay you down upon a bed
of purest blossom white.
Never stray far from home
Never stray far from home
Fall prey to seduction and
satisfy them well.
They'll entice you every night
until you break the spell.
Loveliness will face you
but they'll never let you see,
from behind each girl's a hollow trunk
a blackened, rotting tree.
The red girl will pluck out your eyes
and wear them as her own.
She will make you beg and cry
and wish you stayed at home.
The white girl will cut out your tongue
and sing a tune so fine,
they have lured many men
and left them mute and blind.
Never take a glass of wine
with these sisters two.
They'll tear apart your body
'til there's nothing left of you.
The red girl will drain your blood
to dye her dresses in.
The white girl will carve your bones
and wear your teeth and skin.
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2. |
Oxford N.Y.
04:09
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Oxford , N.Y.
Mother, don't turn out the light
please don't leave me here alone.
To face the horrors of the night
you know I can't sleep on my own.
He was known throughout the town.
Every night as evening fell
he turned and wept against the wall.
With every breath he begged them.
Please don't lay me six feet down,
let me see the sky and stars.
Lay me in a coffin made of glass.
Mother, don't block out the sun,
please don't lay me under stone .
Let me see the morning come
you know I can't sleep all alone.
Years passed by he lay there still ,
until they cleared his bones away.
His voice was carried on the wind
searching for his body.
oh Mother, lay my bones to rest.
Lay me down and leave me here
in the town that I love best,
you know I can't sleep without fear .
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3. |
Money Or Jewels
04:02
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Money or Jewels
The sun was high as they wandered down to the fair,
the village was gathering by.
The girls over one side, waiting for young men to dare,
waiting for someone to try.
When he asked her to dance as the music began
with his hands at her waist , he held her and
span by the light from the trees in the square
to music that no-one else heard .
She whispered to him " it feels like I'm dancing on air
and I float with the grace of a bird ".
Well she remembers that glorious day
when he leant in close to gently say,
" I can't offer you money or jewels ,
I can't house you in mansion or hall.
I have nothing , nothing to give you except my love . "
They walked out for a year and wed at the turning of spring
with May blossom crowning the trees.
The boredom took hold as she waited for life to begin,
he left her to do as she pleased.
Behind closed doors as she lay on her bed
he leant in close and gently said,
So he stole from family and friends .
He stole from the church, though he always intended
to pay what was owed after pleasing his wife.
Nothing he did was ever enough.
When they came to the door, to take him away.
He leant in close to gently say,
" I have given you money and jewels ,
I provided with all you desired.
You have taken all I could give you
except my love. "
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4. |
Hang The Rowan
05:26
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Hang the Rowan
You can beg, you can plead,
you can fall onto your knees
I will have my recompense.
You can run, you can hide,
you won't escape the lies
I will have my vengeance.
Hang the rowan round the doorway
even here you are not safe , keep your family beside you.
Lock the doors , attend your children.
Keep the fire burning bright , count the hours 'til morning.
Nine long years you've kept your secret.
How you dread this time of year.
Justice reaches out to take you,
take back the child you stole from me.
I am flying through the forest,
walking old familiar ways, bringing night at my heels.
I am come to keep my promise.
I am here to stake my claim, your untruth to reveal.
On that night in dark November
when you offered me your word.
Took my only daughter from me ,
hoping that no-one , no-one had heard.
Tonight will be your final chance
to confess your great mistake.
My life you took in your own hands,
I will hound you to your grave.
I turned to you for guidance,
cast aside by love and faith, I thought you were my saviour.
You sheltered me from danger,
kept me safe from prying eyes, modified my behaviour .
As you eased my child from me, my precious ray of hope.
Laid your cunning hands upon me, and placed around my neck a silken rope.
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5. |
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The Ballad of Andy Jacobs
Andy Jacobs drifted in and settled down into his favourite chair,
he let his mind wander for a while.
She watched his eyes unfocus, seeing things she didn't know were there,
but he caught her eye and broke into a smile.
He said " Cassie love we've decided.
Cassie love, I'm not sure I chose the right side,
but tomorrow I'll be standing on the line ".
Cassie took his hand in hers and said " I've never seen your face look so pale,
It reminds me of the first time we met.
You were standing at the bar and you looked nervous and I thought that you'd be sick,
but we laughed together 'til last orders rang.
You said, ' Cassie love I've decided,
Cassie love, you're the one I want to be with
and soon you'll be standing by my side.
I'll make you my bride in this fine month of April.' "
" For fifteen years I've worked down there and I'm not afraid to leave without a fight,
but I'm sure this'll be over in a week.
From the Cenotaph tomorrow we will march and let them see just how we're feeling.
We'll let them know we're not afraid to strike.
But Cassie love, it might be hard.
Cassie love, we've kids to feed and no money saved,
but at least I'm standing for what I believe in."
Cassie took his hand in hers and said, " I'll stand beside you all the way,
just promise me you won't cause any trouble."
As the month got underway Andy started coming home much less,
the kids almost forgot what he looked like.
" Cassie love, I thought you understood.
Cassie love, we're fighting for our way of life
And I have to help the lads out on the line.
They'll not make me a fool in this fine month of April."
Just to raise a little cash Andy went back to the only thing he knew,
illegal but he saw no other way.
Digging coal from the banks of the train-tracks and selling it on,
digging in the dark so no-one saw.
" Cassie love, I've let you down.
Cassie love, this hasn't gone the way I planned,
I never thought that I'd be living off the land."
Then one evening he went down to find some kids had set the signal box alight ,
he watched as it was razed to the ground.
But the seam below caught fire and Andy's coal burned just out of sight.
He hid and watched the flames grow higher.
" Cassie love, the smoke kept rising.
Cassie love, it was like watching my hopes and fears,
I'm afraid I won't re-build them for many years.
Maybe I'm a fool in this fine month of April.
Maybe I'm a fool to put you all through this.
Perhaps I should have listened to my conscience,
maybe I'm a fool,
maybe I'm a fool. "
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6. |
The White Hind
04:48
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The White Hind.
Daughter you look pale and white and weary through the day.
Tell me why you leave each night and will not stay.
Forever in the bright daylight as a young girl I can go,
but I change at even-time to a pure white doe.
Three times they'll chase her down, three times she'll run away.
The fourth time that they chase her down her life they'll take.
They chase me through the forest green with hounds and hunting men,
and it is my own brother dear that rides with them.
Oh beg him now to stay his hand and hold his hounds at bay,
for I can break this curse if I can make midday.
Oh son , will you not stay inside and will you leash your hounds ?
For that white hind you hunt each night is your own blood.
I will ride the forest green and I will not stay my hand
and I will claim the finest hind that roams the land.
Three times they chased her down, three times she's run away.
The fourth time that they chased her down, the white hind they did slay.
Oh son of mine I beg of you , where's my daughter dear ?
I hear a young girls voice ring out sweet and clear.
My heart is on the table and my blood is on the floor.
My bones are roasting on the coals, I'll return no more.
'The White Hind' is based upon the traditional french song, 'La Biche Blanche.'
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7. |
Lusty Smith
02:52
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Lusty Smith
A fine young smith at a vice stood filing,
his hammer out and his forge aglow.
When to him a young maid came smiling
and asked if to work in her forge he'd go.
" I will " said the smith and they went together
along to the lady's forge did go.
They stripped to the waist hot work , hot weather
he lit her fire and she made him blow.
Her husband , she said , no work he gave her.
His tools were worn out long ago.
The smith said " Mine are in good order
and I'm prepared my skill to show ".
Hot grew his iron as both desired
and he was wise to strike while so.
She said " what I get is out of the fire
so please strike home and redouble the blow ".
Six times did his iron by vigorous heating
grow soft in her forge in a minute or so.
As oft was hardened still was beating,
it softened more and hardened slow.
When he rose to go she said in sorrow
" I wish my husband could do so.
With your hammer come tomorrow,
but can we try once more before you go ".
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8. |
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The Wisdom of Standing Still.
Sit down, take a deep breath.
Forget about climbing your hill.
Close your eyes let the world hurry by,
see the wisdom of standing still.
Switch off, don't say a word.
Take the chance to relax if you will.
Enjoy the sunset or gaze at the stars,
see the wisdom of standing still.
Twenty four hours a whirlwind surrounds you,
time is the foe of all men.
How can you see all the fine things around you?
Slow down, make space again.
So come in and sit by the fire,
and pass me your glass to refill.
The rat-race can spare you an hour or so,
see the wisdom of standing still.
Time is for wasting , losing and making,
time is for sharing with friends.
Those who adore you will always implore you
to slow down and make space again.
So come home with me
and pass me your glass to refill.
Bask in the silence and revel in peace,
see the wisdom of standing still.
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9. |
Standing At My Window
03:45
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Standing at my Window
You are standing at my window and I call to you.
Remember what you said to me, you promised you were mine.
You are standing in the doorway and I call to you.
You said that you would follow me wherever I desired .
Father can't you hear him , he's come to take me home.
Down into the depths of hell where surely he belongs.
Father won't you help me, be my saving grace.
He has ridden half the night to take me to my grave.
If I said that I'd go with you it was but in jest,
you were just to pass the time I never loved you best.
I have never laid a flower on your granite stone.
You are damned for evermore to wander on your own.
You are standing here in my room and I reach for you.
I have braved the pale moonlight to take you to my home.
You are standing at my bedside and I reach for you.
Very soon the sun will rise and with you I must come
I am lying here beside you can you feel my bones ?
You will feel the chill black earth before the morning comes.
I am holding you tight to me you cannot go free .
You must ride upon my horse and spend eternity with me.
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Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman Tavistock, UK
Two of the British Folk music’s most accomplished and admired performers.
Kathryn and Sean have played the world
over in a number of guises however, the intimacy and strength of passion shown as a duo, combined with an eclectic repertoire ensures a rare treat for any listener.
For over a quarter of a century now Kathryn and Sean have established themselves as pillars of modern British Folk.
... more
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