THE WITCH OF THE WESTMORLAND Time: 2/4 Tenor: C Bass: C
- Archie Fisher, 198?
- Record: Stan Rogers, Between The Breaks
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Pale was the wounded knight___ that bore the rowan shield
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Loud and cruel were the raven s cries that feasted on the field
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Saying: beck water, cold and clear___, will never clean your wound
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There s none but the Witch of the Westmor-land can make thee hale and sound
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So turn, turn your stallion s head___, till his red mane flies in the wind
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And the rider of the moon goes by and the bright star falls be-hind
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And clear was the paley moon___, when his shadow passed him by
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Be-low the hills were the brightest stars when he heard the owlet cry
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Saying: Why do you ride this way___, and wherefore came you here
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I seek the Witch of the Westmor-land, who dwells by the winding mere
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And it s weary by the Ulls-water___ and the misty brake fern way
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Till through the cleft of the Kirkstane Pass, the winding water lay
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He said: Lie down, my brindled hound___, and rest ye, my good grey hawk
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And thee, my steed, may graze thy fill, for I must dis-mount and walk
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But come when you hear my horn___, and answer swift the call
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For I fear ere the sun will rise this morn ye will serve me best of all
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And it s down to the water s brim___, he s born the rowan shield
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And the golden-rod he has cast in, to see what the lake might yield
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And wet rose she from the lake___, and fast and fleet went she
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One half the form of a maiden fair with a jet black mare s bo-dy
CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO
NOTES:
- Timing: 2/4 avoids original mixed time (4/4 & 2/4)
- Rogers: Tuning: DADGAG, Play G (capo 5 = C)
THE WITCH OF THE WESTMORLAND PAGE TWO
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And loud, long and shrill he blew___ till his steed was by his side
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High over-head the grey hawk flew and swiftly he did ride
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Saying: Course well, my brindled hound___, and fetch me the jet black mare
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Stoop and strike, my good grey hawk, and bring me the maiden fair
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She said: Pray, sheathe thy silvery sword___. Lay down thy rowan shield
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For I see by the briny blood that flows, you ve been wounded in the field
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And she stood in a gown of velvet blue___, bound round with a silver chain
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And she s kissed his pale lips one and twice, and three times round a-gain
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And she s bound his wounds with the golden-rod___, full fast in her arms he lay
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and he has risen hale and sound with the sun high in the day
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She said: Ride with your brindled hound at heel__, and your good grey hawk in hand
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There s none can harm the knight who s lain with the Witch of the Westmor-land__
SYMBOLS:
- Asterisk (*) = new measure, play same chord
- Period (.) = 1/8 note rest at start of a measure
- Underline(_) = sustain note into next measure
