Unfurling
Beck Sian
The Lyrics
Dungarvan
(Dún Garbhán)
Clonea
Kathleen
Words & vocals by Beck Siàn
Bullroarer by David Robson
Keyboards by Paul Strahan
Unfurling
With rain comes
Extraordinary beauty
With rain comes beauty
To the haunted forest
Fronds glistening
Like be-jewelled
Belly-dancers
In the delicate breeze
They sway sensually
The spirit is me
I haunt this
Enchanted
Place
Words, music, vocals & Celtic harp by Beck Siàn
Moss
There is sweet music here
That softer falls
Than petals from blown roses on the grass
Or night dews on still waters between walls
Of shadowy granite, in a gleaming pass
Here are cool mosses deep
And through the moss the ivies creep
There is sweet music here
That softer falls
Than glowing leaves from Autumnal trees
Or rivers weeping into waterfalls
And shadowy whispers carried on the breeze
Music that gentlier on the spirit lies
Than tired eyelids upon tired eyes
Music that brings sweet sleep
Down from blissful skies
Down from blissful skies
Words in 1st verse & chorus by Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-92)
Arranged & adapted by Beck Siàn
Words in 2nd verse by Beck Siàn
Music, vocals, guitar by Beck Siàn
Fiddle by Pieter Hart
Keyboards by Paul Strahan
Tangled In Green
The statue in the garden
Overgrown with strangling ivy
Its pale stone eyes seem to follow
My every move
And I’m sure it dances around in the night
When no-one is watching
Tangled in green
I push my hands against the pane
I will my spirit through the glass
And slip silently through
A grove of silver birches by moonlight
My sequins trailing
Trailing through
Grassy
Dew
Words, music, vocals & guitar by Beck Siàn
Keyboards by Paul Strahan
Wind chimes by David Robson
Shadow of a Dream
I seem to move among a world of ghosts
And feel myself the shadow of a dream
Words by Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-92)
Adapted & arranged by Beck Siàn
Music & vocals by Beck Siàn
Keyboards by Paul Strahan
Greensleeves
Alas my love you do me wrong
To cast me off discourteously
When I have loved you, oh so long
Delighting in your company
Greensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight
Greensleeves was my heart of gold
And who but my Lady Greensleeves?
Thou couldst desire no earthly thing
But still thou hadst it readily
Thy music still to play and sing
And yet thou wouldst not love me
Thou gown was of the grassy green
Thy sleeves of satin hanging by
Which made thee be our ivy queen
And yet thou wouldst not love me
Words & music traditional
Arranged, altered & adapted by Beck Siàn
Vocals, guitar & tenor recorder by Beck Siàn
Keyboards by Paul Strahan
Ethereal
The wind whistles through
You are ethereal as a dream
You cannot hide behind
That long red hair
It is seen through
You cannot hide from yourself
You cry at twilight
As the faeries take flight
And the mermaids grow still
Beneath the dark sea
You try to escape the dark woods
And web of addiction
Yet never wanting to leave
Afraid to feel that sunlight
Upon your face
Words, music, vocals & beer bottles by Beck Siàn
Didgeridoo by Stax - The Didgeman
Bullroarer & wind chimes by David Robson
The Foggy Dew
Music based upon a traditional Irish song of the same name
Arranged & adapted by Beck Siàn
Vocals by Beck Siàn
Messages in Dreams
Messages in dreams
I awake to a voice
Messages in dreams
A distant whisper
A song comes unbidden to my lips
Messages in dreams
A love song sung to the moon
Messages in dreams
I’m learning how to feel again
My song floats through the darkening air
Words, music & vocals by Beck Siàn
Sherbrooke Forest
Music, vocals, Celtic harp by Beck Siàn
Keyboards by Paul Strahan
“Choo-woos” by Puffing Billy Steam Train, Dandenong Ranges, Victoria, Australia
Under Thunderous Skies
Bitterness
Amidst the thunderstorm
Doesn’t seem to suit
Birds sing busily
Amidst bright lightning
What right have I to feel sorrow?
And yet it seems fitting somehow
Sadness goes hand in hand with thunder
Yet storms bring me such joy
And a feeling akin to hope overrules my heart
No matter how broken it may be
Bitterness
Amidst the thunderstorm
Doesn’t seem quite fair
So he doesn’t love me anymore
Well I wish I didn’t care
But I refuse to feel sorrow
Instead I’ll focus on tomorrow
I stand illuminated by bright lightning
And a feeling akin to hope overrules my heart
No matter how broken it may be
Under Thunderous Skies
Words, music, vocals & guitar by Beck Siàn
Keyboards by Paul Strahan
This song was the winner of the 2004 Ranges Folk Festival Songsmith Award
The Night Will Never Stay
The night will never stay
The night will still go by
Though with a million stars
You try to pin it to the sky
Though you bind it
With the dark wind
And buckle it with the moon
The night will slip away
Like a sorrow or a tune
Words based upon a poem by Eleanor Farjeon (1881-1965)
Adapted & arranged by Beck Siàn
Music & vocals by Beck Siàn
The 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 riding hat on
Decked ‘round with primroses?
I’m afraid the scorching sun
Might shine and burn his beauty
And if i was with my love
I’d do my duty
Strange news has come to town
Strange news has carried
Strange news flies up and down
That my love is married
Well I wish them both much joy
Though they can’t hear 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?
He says, “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.”
And may God reward you well
For the slighting of me…
Words & music based upon a traditional song of the same name
Arranged, altered and adapted by Beck Siàn
Vocals & guitar by Beck Siàn
Keyboards & percussion by Paul Strahan
Mountain Ash
Night falls
The candle flickers
Shadows climb the walls
Beyond the window
Low clouds hide the moon
Darken the room
The garden
A perfumery
The coldness sends
A geranium scent
And I have no fear
For I know my own heart now
And my destiny is clear
The wind creeps through
Dark fern gullies
And shivers among
Mountain Ash leaves
Night falls
The candle flickers
Shadows climb the walls
Words, music, vocals & guitar by Beck Siàn
Percussion by Paul Strahan
Dream Beneath Trees (Ethereal Part II)
Storm-filled day
Rain-beaten leaves
I hide beneath ivy
I dream beneath trees
With all unseen things
Spirits and luminous wings
Cold hour of twilight
Between dark and light
Deep in my being
The shadows are fleeing
Words, music, vocals & beer bottles by Beck Siàn
Didgeridoo by Stax - The Didgeman
Bullroarer & wind chimes by David Robson
Bonus Track: Strahany’s ‘Black’ Mix
Remix of ‘The Blacksmith’ by Paul Strahan
Extra vocals by Beck Siàn
Extra keyboards by Paul Strahan
Recording Details and Extra Notes
All songs on ‘Unfurling’ were recorded at Strahany’s Sound Studio,
Engineered by Paul Strahan,
except ‘Ethereal’ & ‘Dream Beneath Trees’ - didgeridoo recorded by Phil Smith,
vocals and extra bits recorded by Trevor Carter at Studio 52.
Produced by Beck Siàn and Paul Strahan.
Mixed & mastered by Paul Strahan.
Remastered by David Brimacombe at Blue Door Studio in 2024.
All lyrics and music written by Beck Siàn unless otherwise stated.
© Beck Siàn/Haunted Forest Productions 2005.
All rights reserved. Published by Beck Siàn/Haunted Forest Productions.
Photographs by David Robson, Paul Strahan and Beck Siàn.
‘Unfurling’ is dedicated to Kathy & Harry, and all of the Robsons.
Very special thanks to: Pieter Hart, Janette Geri & Phil Smith, Stax - The Didgeman (You are truly a legend and gorgeous too!!!), Dave O’Toole, Pili Robson (thanks for being so encouraging), Niki and Dan Robson (for telling me that you are proud of what I am doing), Graeme Strahan and last but not least, extra special thanks to my father, David Robson, who is not only extremely supportive and encouraging, but also so inspirational, and a very good bullroarer and wind chimes player too! I am very grateful to you xxx Finally, thank you with all my heart to Paul Strahan. I believe it was fate that I found you for this recording - surely no-one else could have understood where I wanted to go with this! Thanks for the many patient hours of dedication, interest and support.
Luminous Wings & Unseen Things
Beck Sian
The Lyrics
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 Sian).
Vocals, tin-whistle & guitar by Beck Sian.
Harpsichord/keyboards & bass by Chris Gill.
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 Sian
Vocals & Beryl’s old piano by Beck Sian
Bird-song by Mr. Robin
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 Sian).
Words in final verse (And the foxgloves… ) by Beck Sian.
Music, vocals & guitar by Beck Sian.
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 Sian.
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 mhúirnin 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 mhúirnin slán
Siúil, siúil, siúil a rúin
Siúil go sochair agus siúil go ciúin
Siúil go dorus agus éalaigh liom
Is go dté tú mo mhúirnin 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 mhúirnin slán
Siúil, siúil, siúil a rúin
Siúil go sochair agus siúil go ciúin
Siúil go dorus agus éalaigh liom
Is go dté tú mo mhúirnin 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 mhúirnin 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 mhúirnin slán
Siúil, siúil, siúil a rúin
Siúil go sochair agus siúil go ciúin
Siúil go dorus agus éalaigh liom
Is go dté tú mo mhúirnin slán
Traditional Irish (arranged/adapted by Beck Sian).
Vocals by Beck Sian.
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 (arranges/altered/adapted by Beck Sian).
Music traditional (arranged/adapted by Beck Siàn).
Vocals, tin-whistle, guitar by Beck Sian.
Electric guitar & bass by Chris Gill.
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 Sian.
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 and 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 Sian - this song was created by combining words from two traditional ballads - ‘Bushes & Briars’, and ‘As Sylvie Was Walking’).
Vocals and guitar by Beck Sian.
Keyboards by Chris Gill.
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 Sian
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 Sian.
Keyboards by Chris Gill.
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 see
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
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 ands 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 Sian
Electric guitar by Chris Gill.
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 sliver hair
Can you hear?
Whistling through the lavender twilight
Whistling through the lavender twilight
Words, vocal melody & vocals by Beck Sian.
Music by Chris Gill.
Whistling, keyboards & guitars by Chris Gill.
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/altered/adapted by Beck Sian).
Music - Traditional.
Vocals & guitar by Beck Sian.
Keyboards by Chris Gill.
Weep Ye No More, Sad Fountains
Weep yo 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 even 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 Sian).
Music, vocals and keyboards by Beck Sian.
Keyboards by Chris Gill.
BONUS TRACKS:
Moss (Live)
Words in 1st verse & chorus by Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-92)
Arranged & adapted by Beck Sian.
Words in 2nd verse by Beck Sian.
Music, vocals & guitar by Beck Sian.
Thornfield (acoustic)
Words, music, vocals and guitar by Beck Sian.
Recording Details and Extra Notes
All songs on ‘Luminous Wings & Unseen Things’ were recorded at ‘Mathrafal’ and Criggion Studio, Wales, and engineered by Chris Gill, except ‘In a Secret Garden’ and ‘Down by the Salley Gardens’ - recorded initially by Neil Darbyshire at Web, with extra recording on ‘Salley Gardens’ by Chris Gill.
Produced by Beck Sian and Chris Gill.
Mixed by Chris Gill - with the tiniest bit of assistance by Beck Sian.
Mastered by Steve Kitch.
Photographs by Krystyna FitzGerald-Morris and Chris Gill.
Design & layout by Beck Sian, Krystyna & Peter FitzGerald-Morris.
Front cover photo and design by Krystyna FitzGerald-Morris.
All lyrics & music by Beck Sian unless otherwise stated (note: Chris Gill wrote the stunning music for ‘The Topiary Garden’).
© Beck Sian/Haunted Forest Productions 2009. All rights reserved.
Published by Beck Sian/Haunted Forest Productions 2009. All rights reserved.
‘Luminous Wings & Unseen Things’ is dedicated to Kate Bush, Jane Austen & Vali Myers, without whom I would not be Beck Sian.
For your support of, and contributions to this CD, thank you with all my heart to… Chris Gill, Krystyna & Peter FitzGerald-Morris, Adrian Nunn, Neil Darbyshire & Matthew Callow. Thanks also to Steve, Sarah & Charlotte of ‘Whalebone’ for your friendship and belief - it has meant more to me than you know, and to my family and friends who encourage me and help me keep the dreams alive, including everyone mentioned above, and Stax, Cher, Pami Gill, Sue, Paul, Michelle & Tracey, Gary Quinn, Geoffles, Mezza, Beryl Jones, Helen & Kev, Shelley & Ali & David, Ralph Rea, Niki Robson, Phyllis Evans, Dave Robson, Dan Robson, Steve Kitch, Katrina Gill & the gang at Bridge Garage :-)
Ye Olde Silent Inn
Beck Sian
The Lyrics
Wycoller Hall
Grey… hollow casements
Dark birds fly through
Wet… shattered walls
Of moss and mildew.
Sad… cold sky
And lonely, old stone
Damp… chilled air;
Dreams that have flown.
Silent are the fragments
Hushes are the leaves
Just the time-shattering cry
Of the rooks in the trees.
Lyrics & music by Beck Sian.
Acoustic guitar & vocals by Beck Sian
Keyboards by Steve Palmer
© Beck Siàn/Haunted Forest Productions 2012
The Black Silk Handkerchief
A wealthy squire lived in our town
He was a man of high renown
He had one daughter, a beauty bright
And the name he called her was his ‘Heart’s Delight’
Many young men to court her came
But none of them could her favour gain
Till there came one of the low degree
And above them all she did fancy he
But when her father he came to know
That his only daughter loved this young man so
Over fifty miles he sent her away
All to deprive her of her wedding day
One night as she lay in her bedroom
Her love appeared from out the gloom
He touched her hand and to her did say,
“Arise my darling and come away”
With this young man she got on behind
And they rode swifter than any wind
They rode on for five hours or more
Till he cried, “My darling, my head feels sore!”
A black silk handkerchief she then took out
And with it wrapped his aching head about
She kissed his lips and these words did say,
“My love you are colder than any clay”
When they arrived at her father’s gate
He said, “Get down, love, for the hour is late!
Get down, get down, love, and go to bed
And I’ll see this gallant horse is groomed and fed”
Then she arrived at her father’s hall
“Who’s there, who’s there now?”, her father called
“’Tis I dear father, you sent for me
and my love was the messenger, was sent by thee”
“Oh no my daughter, that can never be
Your words are false and you lie to me
For on yonder mountain your young man died
And in yon green meadow his body lies”
The truth then dawned upon this lady brave
And with her friends they exposed the grave
There lay her love though nine months dead
With a black silk handkerchief tied ‘round his head.
Based upon ‘The Holland Handkerchief’ (Traditional - Arranged/altered/adapted by Beck Sian)
Music by Beck Sian and Steve Palmer
Vocals by Beck Sian.
© Beck Siàn/Haunted Forest Productions 2012
The Moon on the 13th
It’s moonlit tonight
I can see my way
But I don’t know where I’m going
Around a corner
Across the moors
A warm light shines
On dark stone walls
But who’s within
& who’s without?
& I feel alone
But I know
I’m not alone
There are footsteps behind me
Always
Footsteps behind me.
Lyrics & vocals by Beck Sian
Music by Steve Palmer
© Beck Siàn/Haunted Forest Productions 2012
Ye Olde Silent Inn
On twisting roads
Through pale green I came
Ever-stretching pale green
And russet bracken
And heather-lined lanes
And the wind moaned as an old man
With arthritic knees
Bones creaking and rustling like leaves
And the wind… wuthers.
I enter the inn: it is warm within
Test the windows: check the doors
The locks are fast: the bolts are drawn
But whose little faces stare at me
From between the banisters?
Keep silent
Keep silent
And the wind… wuthers.
Rain rattles the window panes
Something glides just out of sight
A storm-whipped night
A storm-whipped night
It’s a wicked night for one to be out on the moors
From whence come the bells?
From beneath the gnarled trees?
Or between the wind-blasted tussocks
And skeletal leaves?
And the wind… wuthers.
Inside the warm inn,
Long shadows fall
But who’s that calling out on the moor?
A moth beats its grey, dusty wings against the glass
And the wind… wuthers.
Lyrics, music, acoustic guitar and vocals by Beck Sian.
© Beck Siàn/Haunted Forest Productions 2012
Down in Yon Forest
Down in yon forest there stands a hall
The phantom bells I heard them ring
It’s covered all over in purple and pall
And I love my love above anything.
In that hall there stands a bed
The phantom bells I heard them ring
It’s covered all over in scarlet and red
And I love my love above anything.
At the bed’s foot there grows a thorn
The phantom bells I heard them ring
It flowers and blossoms at dusk and at dawn
And I love my love above anything.
Under that bed there runs a flood
The phantom bells I heard them ring
The half it runs water: the half it runs blood
And I love my love above anything.
Over that bed the moon shines bright
The phantom bells I heard them ring
I sense he is here again with me this night
And I love my love above anything.
Traditional - Arranged/altered/adapted by Beck Sian
Vocals by Beck Sian
© Beck Siàn/Haunted Forest Productions 2012
The Dark Stairs
The small flame falters
And I hesitate
Upon dark stairs
Old stairs made of ships’ timber
Still groaning on the waves.
Flocked wallpaper dances
In the shifting light.
A swish of trailing garments
Chilling by
Somewhere a door opens
Slams shut again
Heavy steps creak the boards
A low voice murmurs
Psss-psss-psss
A dark shadow moans past.
(I’m brushing past you now
I’m brushing past you now).
Lyrics & vocals by Beck Sian
Music by Chris Gill
© Beck Siàn/Haunted Forest Productions 2012
The Moors
Sensuous wind, foxy wind,
You whip the sad skin from my face
Battered by you, my careworn soul sings,
O mistress of this spirit place
Toes in heather on the lonely moor,
There’s a hole in my heart and the wind moans through
Looking out on the lonely moor,
There’s a hole in my heart and the wind moans through
I am as wind-torn as that ravaged hawthorn
Yes, I am as wind-torn as that ravaged hawthorn.
Lyrics & vocals by Beck Sian
Music by Chris Gill
© Beck Siàn/Haunted Forest Productions 2012
Lady of the Wind
The wind has the heart of a wicked child
That laughs and moans when she sings -
The wind will come to you whenever she is wild,
Just let her in, let her in.
When the wind blows, open your windows;
When the wind roars, pull her indoors,
For the wind is a person, pretty and fearsome,
With a force so vast she can haul down the past,
Or cast her whispers, like a gang of giggling sisters,
In a corner, in a nook, or across the pages of an open book.
Feel the wind as she snuffles at your skin,
In her playful haste she might just brush your face,
Taste your thoughts and what you’ve caught,
Then chase a hair left behind by someone fair,
Bare the covered table, like wind from a fable,
Or smash all your windows with a poke of her elbow.
Lasting just a beat, she clears away the heat
Of nights of summer passion, turned grey and ashen,
She fashions shapes from smoke of midnight tokes,
Long gone rotten, into ghosts best forgotten.
Cottons swirl and flap, water sprays across the tap
As she strokes your back, sighs and then goes slack.
Across the misted glass the wind is flying past -
Let her into your room, let her rattle and boom;
With a flick of her tail she’ll scatter your mail,
With a toss of her mane she clears away rain,
With a thump of her knees she can flatter trees,
With a kiss of her lips she can blow us to bits.
Can you hear her Slamming all your doors,
Tugging at the bolts on all your winter stores,
Coming up the stairs and then across your floors
To try and open all your secret, hidden drawers?
Here comes that wind tapping with her salty paws,
Here comes that wind running along your corridors.
Tacking over the bedclothes she licks and throws
The silks of leisure over the creases of pleasure.
Treasure the lady of the wind for she whips away sin
With her sweeping fins flipping over edge and rim,
Scattering empty tins and knocking over your bins:
But to clean what has been, you must first let her in.
When the wind blows, open your windows;
When the wind roars, pull her indoors,
For the wind is a person, pretty and fearsome,
With a force so vast she can haul down your past,
Or cast her whispers, like a gang of giggling sisters,
In a corner, in a nook, or across the pages of an open book.
The wind has the heart of a wicked child
That laughs and moans when she sings -
The wind will come to you when she’s wild,
Just let her in, let her in.
Words by John Carder Bush (reprinted here by kind permission of John Carder Bush)
Vocals by Beck Sian and John Carder Bush
Violin by Raven Bush
Music by Beck Sian
© Beck Siàn/Haunted Forest Productions 2012
Molly Malone
In Dublin’s fair city, where the girls are so pretty
I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone
As she wheeled her wheelbarrow
Through streets broad and narrow
Crying, “Cockles and mussels alive a-live O!”
She was a fishmonger and sure it was no wonder
For so were her father and brother before
And they both wheeled their barrows
Through streets broad and narrow
Crying, “Cockles and mussels alive a-live O!”
“A-live a-live O! A-live a-live O!”
Crying, “Cockles and mussels alive a-live O!”
She died of a fever and no one could save her
And that was the end of sweet Molly Malone
Now her ghost wheels her barrow
Through streets broad and narrow
Crying, “Cockles and mussels alive a-live O!”
“A-live a-live O! A-live a-live O!”
Crying, “Cockles and mussels alive a-live O!”
Traditional. Arranged/adapted by Beck Sian
Vocals by Beck Sian
© Beck Siàn/Haunted Forest Productions 2012
The Old Clock on the Stairs
Somewhat back from the village street
Stands the old-fashioned country seat.
Across its antique portico
Tall poplar trees their shadows throw;
And from its station in the hall
An ancient timepiece says it all -
“Forever - never!
Never - forever!”
Half-way up the stairs it stands,
And points and beckons with its hands
From its case of massive oak,
Like a monk, who, under his cloak,
Crosses himself, and sighs, alas!
With sorrowful voice to all who pass, -
“Forever - never!
Never - forever!”
By day its voice is low and light;
But in the silent dead of night,
Distinct as a passing footstep’s fall,
It echoes along the vacant hall,
Along the ceiling, along the floor,
And seems to say at each chamber-door, -
“Forever - never!
Never - forever!”
In that mansion used to be
Free-hearted hospitality;
His great fires up the chimney roared;
The stranger feasted at his board,
But, like the skeleton at the feast,
That warning timepiece never ceased, -
“Forever - never!
Never - forever!”
From that chamber, clothed in white,
The bride came forth on her wedding night;
There, in that silent room below,
The dead lay in his shroud of snow;
And in the hush that followed the prayer,
Was heard the old clock on the stair, -
“Forever - never!
Never - forever!”
All are scattered now and fled,
Some are married, some are dead;
And when I ask, with throbs of pain,
“Ah! When shall they all meet again?”
As in the days long since gone by,
The ancient timepiece makes reply, -
“Forever - never!
Never - Forever!”
Based on a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Arranged/altered/adapted by Beck Sian
Acoustic guitar and vocals by Beck Sian
Special guest musicians ‘Whalebone’ (Guitar by Char Watson, guitar by Steve Downs and fiddle by Sarah Ibberson)
© Beck Siàn/Haunted Forest Productions 2012
Her Soul to a Highwayman
He emerged from the dark trees
Paused in the moonlit clearing
Her feet moved forward
Magnetic pull
An old soul, she thought
An old soul
She had to touch him
Mesmerised by his eyes
Then only a breath between them
Those dark, dark eyes
Her sighs, her sighs
His head to the left
His teeth to her neck
Nipples tingling and hardening
Mmmmmmmmmm
A strong, rough hand
On her lower back
Another in her hair
Fingers through her hair
Then lips bruising lips
Mouths open, tongues colliding
Sighs from hips to fingertips
And she was crushed
Against his chest
His scent was wild:
Trodden leaves and earth and rain
And at his nape
Her fingers found leather
And tugged and pulled
A long black cascade tumbled around
Moonlit faces
All amongst the heather
All amongst the heather
Lyrics and vocals by Beck Sian
Music by Chris Gill
© Beck Siàn/Haunted Forest Productions 2012
Top Withens
Acoustic guitar, music and vocals by Beck Sian
© Beck Siàn/Haunted Forest Productions 2012
Tales of a Wayside Inn
The windows of the wayside inn
Gleams red with fire-light through the leaves
With crimson curtains rent and thin
And woodbine hanging from the eaves.
A kind of old hobgoblin hall
Now somewhat fallen to decay
With weather-stains upon the wall
And old scents which won’t fade away.
A region of repose it seems
And stairways worn, and crazy doors,
A place of slumber and of dreams
Of creaking and uneven floors.
The fire-light shedding over all
It crowns the sombre clock with flame
It gleams on wainscot and on wall
And flashes on the window-pane.
Before the blazing fire of wood
A bowing phantom musician stood
And ever and anon he bent
His head upon his instrument.
The shadows on the wainscot stirred
And from the harpsichord there came
Slipping forth through time was heard
A ghostly murmur of acclaim.
Words from a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Arranged/altered/adapted by Beck Sian
Music, acoustic guitar and vocals by Beck Sian
© Beck Siàn/Haunted Forest Productions 2012
The Mirror in the Deserted Hall
A flicker in the mirror
Over the shoulder
A glimpse of white
Mist in flight
A glimmer of face
Gliding by, out of place
A displaced sigh
Shuffling by
A creak of boards
A scratch of mice
A groan of doors
And those watching unseen eyes…
Can I share this house with you?
Can we co-exist?
Me with haunted face by day
And you lost in the mist…
Lyrics and vocals by Beck Sian
Music by Chris Gill
© Beck Siàn/Haunted Forest Productions 2012