‘Luminous Wings & Unseen Things’ by Beck Siàn. Lyrics and song notes… Lavender’s Blue ------------------------------ Lavender’s blue, dilly dilly Lavender’s green When I am King, dilly dilly You shall be Queen Lavender’s green, dilly dilly Lavender’s blue You must love me, dilly dilly As I love you Down in the vale, dilly dilly Where flowers grow And the birds sing, dilly dilly All in a row Now you and I, dilly dilly Two become one And we shall lie, dilly dilly No more alone Traditional (arranged/adapted by Beck Siàn). Vocals, tin-whistle & guitar by Beck Siàn. Harpsichord/keyboards & bass by Chris Gill. “My Irish nana, Kathy, loved lavender – and passed that love on to me. I wear lavender oil as my perfume and grow lavender wherever I go to remind me of her. Her lavender spirit threads itself throughout the songs on this album.” In the Greenery --------------------------- In the greenery You tore my heart from my chest In the greenery You stopped the song from my Red-Breast But other birds Continued singing As you ground my joy into the ground, killjoy Like a snail beneath your shoe Like a snail beneath your shoe Beneath your shoe In the greenery Words & music by Beck Siàn. Vocals & Beryl’s old piano by Beck Siàn. Bird-song by Mr. Robin. “This song came to me as I was sitting at a lovely old piano on a wintery evening at the farmhouse in Wales. I was feeling slightly sad as I played, and a Robin Red-Breast was singing outside. I was thinking of two past relationships – of the humiliation I had felt as it was made clear to me that I cared for them more than they cared for me. Like a little bird, I wanted to be held and caressed, admired and listened to. Instead my spirit was crushed. My joy was crushed. My feathers were ripped out and my wings were broken. Carelessly.” The Garden Seat -------------------------------- Its former green is blue and thin And its once firm legs sink in and in; Soon it will break down unaware Soon it will break down unaware. At night when reddest flowers are black Those who once sat thereon come back; Quite a row of them sitting there Quite a row of them sitting there. With them the seat does not break down, Nor winter freeze them, nor floods drown, For they are as light as upper air, They are as light as upper air! And the foxgloves bend their weary heads And I see you there in the flower beds Just a glimpse but then you’re gone A brief melody in a moment’s song. Words in the first three verses by Thomas Hardy (arranged/adapted by Beck Siàn). Words in final verse (And the foxgloves…) by Beck Siàn. Music, vocals & guitar by Beck Siàn. “I discovered this poem by Thomas Hardy many years ago and always knew that I would set it to music someday. I love the very visual way that Hardy wrote – I can see the old garden seat and the ghosts sitting on it, in the darkness, unaware that time has moved on and the garden has changed around them. The ghost of my nana, who loved gardening so much, appears briefly amongst the foxgloves.” I Just Am -------------- I’m finding myself now I’m finding myself I’ve found that I am lost I’ve come to realise That there’s no ideal ‘me’ That I can’t put myself in a box There is no description To befit who I am Or how I am, or why, or what I’ve got to stop trying So hard to define me I have to accept that I just ‘am’. Words, music, vocals & guitar by Beck Siàn. “This song is a gentle little letter to myself – to accept myself and be kind to myself.” Siúil a Rúin ----------------------- I would I were on yonder hill ‘Tis there I’d sit and cry my fill ‘Til every tear would turn a mill Is go dté tú mo mhúirnín slán I’ll sell my rock, I’ll sell my reel I’ll sell my only spinning wheel To buy my love a sword of steel Is go dté tú mo mhúirnín slán Siúil, siúil, siúil a rúin Siúil go sochair agus siúil go ciúin Siúil go dorus agus éalaigh liom Is go dté tú mo mhúirnín slán I’ll dye my petticoats, I’ll dye them red And it’s ‘round the world I’ll beg for bread Until my parents would wish me dead Is go dté tú mo mhúirnín slán Siúil, siúil, siúil a rúin Siúil go sochair agus siúil go ciúin Siúil go dorus agus éalaigh liom Is go dté tú mo mhúirnín slán I wish, I wish, I wish in vain I wish I had my heart again And vainly think I’d not complain Is go dté tú mo mhúirnín slán And now my love has gone to France To try his fortune to advance If he e’er comes back ‘tis but a chance Is go dté tú mo mhúirnín slán Siúil, siúil, siúil a rúin Siúil go sochair agus siúil go ciúin Siúil go dorus agus éalaigh liom Is go dté tú mo mhúirnín slán Traditional Irish (arranged/adapted by Beck Siàn). Vocals by Beck Siàn. “My interpretation of ‘Siúil a Rúin’ is an acknowledgement of the way that ‘Celtic’ music has helped me and healed me. It is also a hug – a comforting of the lost and sad young woman that I once was.” Down by the Salley Gardens ------------------------------------------- Down by the salley gardens my love and I did meet; She passed the salley gardens with little snow-white feet. She bid me take love easy, as the leaves grow on the tree; But I, being young and foolish, with her would not agree. In a field down by the river my love and I did stand, And on my leaning shoulder she laid her snow-white hand. She bid me take life easy, as the grass grows on the weirs; But I was young and foolish, and now I’m full of tears. Words by W. B. Yeats (arranged/altered/adapted by Beck Siàn). Music traditional (arranged/adapted by Beck Siàn). Vocals, tin-whistle, guitar by Beck Siàn. Electric guitar & bass by Chris Gill. “I love this song/poem. In my mind, she speaks of patience, of waiting and allowing love to grow, but he is filled with passion and lust and tries to force things, but it backfires on him. I like to think that she’s a vampire or a faery, with her white skin and bare feet in the Irish bog. She is perfection – fragile and vulnerable, and yet powerful and in control. She warns him gently – don’t push, don’t rush. But it is his nature to try to force and control. She flits here and flits there – a wild spirit – but it is his nature to ensnare her. And if he can’t capture her, he won’t allow anyone else to. And so they are broken apart eternally… There are so many pretty versions of this song out there – I wanted to give it a different slant – and somehow, more by accident than by design, I found that I wanted it to sound as if I were the girl – buried beneath the bog in a chamber, and singing from within the earth”. In a Secret Garden ---------------------------------- The garden is unearthly, hidden Behind ivy-clad walls A swing-seat creaks in the Rusty breeze Words, music, vocals & keyboards by Beck Siàn. “This song was influenced by my love of ‘The Secret Garden’ by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The ghost of the lady of the garden still floats back and forth on her swing-seat at night when the Robin’s song has hushed under the stars. The spirit of my nana, Kathy, still swings at night on the white metal swing-seat that Harry made for her at Upper Ferntree Gully. It is rusty now, and the garden is unkempt and unloved, but at night when Kathy is there, the garden seat is freshly painted again. There are pots of Geraniums, a lovely old Lemon tree, Hibiscus and Chinese lanterns, Hydrangeas and skinks darting about on the hot, white rockery stones.” Bushes & Briars --------------------------------- Through bushes and through briars I lately took my way All for to hear the small birds sing One grey and stormy day I overheard my own true love His voice it was so clear Long time I have been waiting for The coming of my dear I drew myself up into a tree A tree that was so green Where the green leaves shaded over me I scarcely could be seen And as I sat a-weeping A fine young man came by “What ails you, my jewel? My jewel, what makes you cry?” At night in my sweet slumber I dream that I see My own dearest lover Come smiling to me But when I awaken I find it is not so Mine eyes are like fountains Where water doth flow I’ll spread a sail of silver I’ll steer towards the sun And my false love will weep for me He’ll weep when I am gone Through bushes & through briars I lately took my way All for to hear the small birds sing One grey and stormy day Words and music traditional (arranged/altered/adapted by Beck Siàn – this song was created by combining words from two traditional ballads –‘Bushes & Briar’s’, and ‘As Sylvie Was Walking’). Vocals & guitar by Beck Siàn. Keyboards by Chris Gill. “I wanted to create a very dreamy soundscape for this song. I have stepped into the ghostly spirit of a girl who has gone for a garden-walk as a storm is rolling in, and has unexpectedly discovered her lover being unfaithful to her. She is telling her story through me as I sing.” Old Mr. Crow --------------------------- Knock, knock, knock and he wants to come in He’s woken me again and it’s 6am Mr. Crow, Mr. Crow He’s seen his reflection and he wants a big fight He’s banging on the glass all day and night – well not quite, it just seems like it Mr. Crow, Mr. Crow I wouldn’t mind so much but my alarm was set for eight So I’ve lost two hour’s sleep and I went to bed late Mr. Crow, Mr. Crow He’s on the window ledge and he’s staring at me It’s a steadfast glare, unwavering Mr. Crow, Mr. Crow One crow sorrow Two crows mirth Three crows marriage Four crows birth Five crows silver Six crows gold Seven crows a secret Never to be told It’s a murder of crows And they’re just a stone’s throw away Mr. Crow, Mr. Crow I wonder what he’s thinking My black-feathered sunrise A cunning sheened green-wing I hope he won’t pluck out my eyes! Words, music, vocals and guitar by Beck Siàn. “This song is dedicated to the crows here on the farm in Wales. For a while they would wake me up every morning – savagely attacking their reflections in the double-glazing. They would knock and ‘caw’ for hours – until they were bleeding on the windows. I tried everything to stop them – from scarecrows to all sorts of smelly lotions and potions smeared on the window-sills, from hanging tin-foil, CDs and plastic bags out the windows (which the crows promptly shredded),to covering the inside of the glass with paper and cloth – nothing worked. For a while I was scared – was this an omen of impending death? But my crows were heralds of change – death of old things and ways, and new beginnings. I started to recognise that I was going through a period of huge personal change and growth. I embraced my crow-visitations and wrote a song for them. They stopped knocking then. Of course, the fact that the farmers planted corn nearby and had bird-scaring guns sounding regularly throughout the days might have had something to do with it!” Tall, Waving Delphiniums in Storm-light ------------------------------------------------------ We’ll play hide-and-seek in storm-light Amongst topiary and yew Thunder rumbles ‘round Gravel crunches under-foot Stone peacocks try to preen And the griffin Attempts to fly As we run through Tall, waving Delphiniums Delphiniums We’ll play hide-and-seek In storm-light Words, music & vocals by Beck Siàn. Keyboards by Chris Gill. “I live a short distance from Powis Castle in mid Wales at the moment. Powis Castle is full of ghosts and is famous for its stunning terraced gardens and spooky yew hedges, which bulge and loom in eerie shapes. I love to walk between the yew hedges and statues in late afternoon light, when the shadows lengthen and my imagination runs wild.” Thornfield ------------------------- Please see me Please see me As I wish to be seen As the ‘me’ in my dreams As I would have been As I could have been Here I stand Right here before you I can’t ignore you Waiting for you But all you All you see Is shadow… But I’m no caged bird And I can still fly I’m no caged bird And I can still fly Meet me in the garden You can be my Rochester I’ll be your Jane Eyre For I’m just as plain I’m just as plain Though I’ve longer hair But I’m no caged bird And I can still fly I’m no caged bird And I can still fly I know that I’m foolish to fall For forbidden fruit Lured by the promise of it all Though we shouldn’t suit Lightning strikes and splits our tree The fire rages, tries to take you from me But I’m no caged bird And I can still fly I’m no caged bird And I can still fly I’m no caged bird And I can still fly Please see me Please see me As I wish to be seen As the ‘me’ in my dreams As I would have been As I could have been Words, music, vocals, & acoustic guitar by Beck Siàn. Electric guitar by Chris Gill. “One of my very favourite books is ‘Jane Eyre’ by Charlotte Brontë. This story has been one of my closest friends since I was a child and it is a very precious part of my life (along with all of the novels by Jane Austen). This song fell out of the sky and onto my page after one of many visits to Haworth in West Yorkshire, where the Brontë sisters lived.” The Topiary Garden ---------------------------------- I hear green whispers in the garden I feel the old ghosts floating through Trees are bright with wings Sunlight through the jade, cooling shade Can you hear? Can you hear? I still expect to look up And see you standing there With your glittering, shiny brooches And your untamed silver hair Can you hear? Whistling through the lavender twilight Whistling through the lavender twilight Words, Vocal melody and vocals by Beck Siàn. Music by Chris Gill. Whistling, keyboards & guitars by Chris Gill. “In this song I am once again amongst the yew hedges at twilight and I can hear the ghostly whistling of the old gardener, long-since passed away and blown away with the rustling of the leaves and the years. A dragonfly lands on my finger, running his little fore-legs over his eyes; preening and grooming as the ghost-gardener grooms the hedges. My nana ,Kathy, appears again, amongst the lavender. I asked Chris Gill to write the music for this song. Chris is a wonderfully atmospheric composer. Buzzing with emotional sensitivity and creativity, he was able to musically paint the picture that I had pencilled in with a mere suggestion of themes and dreams. Once Chris had recorded the music, my words and melodies just flowed and followed. It was a wonderful collaborative experience.” She Moved Through the Faire ------------------------------------------ My young love said to me, “My mother won’t mind And my father won’t slight you For your lack of kine.” Then she stepped away from me And this she did say, “It will not be long , love ‘til our wedding day.” She stepped away from me And she moved through the faire And fondly I watched her Go here and go there, Then she went her way homeward With one star awake As the swan in the evening Moves over the lake. The people were saying No two were e’er wed, But one has a sorrow That never was said, And I smiled as she passed me With her goods and her gear And that was the last that I saw of my dear. Last night she came to me My dead love came in So softly she came in That her feet made no din She put her hand on me And this she did say, “It will not be long, love, ‘til our wedding day,” Lyrics – traditional/Padraic Colum (arranged/adapted/altered by Beck Siàn). Music – traditional. Vocals & guitar by Beck Siàn. Keyboards by Chris Gill. “This has long been one of my favourite ‘supernatural’ ballads. I absolutely love traditional songs that have a ghostly element or theme – ballads filled with lost romance, broken promise and betrayal, melancholy remembrance – stories told by the spirits of forlorn lovers. In folk music, so often someone is going off to sea – never to return, jumping off the battlements, hanged for helping a highwayman, etc. I guess it’s a morbid fascination, but I love the supernatural ballads and ghost stories.” Weep Ye No More, Sad Fountains --------------------------------------------- Weep ye no more, sad fountains What need ye flow so fast? Look how the snowy mountains Winter’s sun doth gently waste! But my sun’s wintery eyes View not your weeping, That now lies sleeping Softly, now softly lies Sleeping. Sleep is a reconciling, A rest that peace begets. Doth not the sun rise smiling When fair at ev’n he sets? Rest you then, rest, sad eyes, Melt not in weeping While she lies sleeping Softly, now softly lies, Sleeping. Words –Anonymous - 16th century (arranged/altered/adapted by Beck Siàn). Music, vocals and keyboards by Beck Siàn. Keyboards by Chris Gill. “In this song I believe that I try to channel the Earth Mother, Goddess & Mother Nature of all cultures. I cry for the way that the Earth’s precious nature has been abused. I cry for the way that we stomp through life, destroying her gardens. I cry for the destruction of the forests. And I hope – still hope – that it’s not too late. That after crying and then resting, we can recover and re-plant, that we can learn to nurture and not destroy.” BONUS TRACKS Moss -------------- ‘Moss’ was featured on my debut album ‘Unfurling’. I have travelled all over the UK for the past three years, performing hundreds of concerts, and ‘Moss’ always seems to be a crowd-favourite, therefore I thought it was time to record a very intimate, raw and ‘live’ version. So on a wintery night here in mid Wales, with the fire crackling away in the background, a hard-frost outside, a farm-cat scratching at the window and the fridge occasionally whirring into action in the kitchen next door, I sat by the fire and played/sang ‘Moss’ while Chris Gill hit the ‘record’ buttons… and here it is… ‘Moss’ ‘live’, performed and presented with affection.” Thornfield ----------------- Words, music, vocals and guitar by Beck Siàn. “This song began, as most of my songs do, as a very emotional and technically ‘simple’ little piece composed on my acoustic guitar. When the time came to record this song for ‘Luminous Wings & Unseen Things’, I couldn’t decide whether I preferred ‘Thornfield’ with lots of musical instruments and all of the ‘bells and whistles’ or if it worked better as a stripped back ‘acoustic’ piece. Eventually I realised that I couldn’t part with either version and that they should both be included on the album.” “So there you have it… a collection of music inspired by ghosts, gardens and storms… inspired by ‘Jane Eyre’, Jane Austen and ‘The Secret Garden’. Inspired by Wales, by a haunted Welsh castle and spooky yew & box hedges… scented with lavender in a dragonfly twilight… ’Luminous Wings & Unseen Things’, with love & sparkles, from Beck Siàn xxx Official release date: 7th October, 2009 Available to pre-order now from www.becksianmusic.com or from www.myspace.com/becksian (using the PayPal button).