The Dancing Of The Lord Of Weir Lyrics - Robin Williamson

By Robin Williamson 

Robin Williamson: Chanter, bironne, chinese flute, jew's harp, bazooki, gong and vocal. 

In the third part of the year 

when men begin to gather fuel against the 

coming cold 

hear hoover ring hard on frosty ground 

begins our song 

for centuries we lived alone high on the moors 

herding the deer for milk and cheese for leather 

and horn 

humans came seldom nigh 

for we with our spells held them at bay 

and they with gifts of wine and grain did 

honour us 

returning at evening from the great mountains 

out red hoods ring with bells lightly we run 

until before our own green hill 

there we did stand 

she is stolen 

she is snatched away 

through watery meads straying our lovely 

daughter 

she of the wild eyes 

she of the wild hair 

snatched up to the saddle of the lord of Weir 

who has his castle high upon a crag 

a league away 

upon the horse of air at once we rode 

to where Weir's castle lifts like a crippled claw 

into the moon 

and taking form of minstrels brightly clad 

we paced upon white ponies to the gate 

and rang thereon 

"we come to sing unto my lord of Weir 

a merry song." 

into his sorry hall we stepped 

where was our daughter bound near his chair 

"come play a measure!" 

"sir at once we will!" 

and we began to sing and play 

to lightly dance in rings and faster turn 

no man within that hall could keep his seat 

but needs must dance and leap 

against his will 

this was the way we danced them to the door 

and sent them on their way into the world 

where they will leap amain 

till they think one kind thought 

for all I know they may be dancing still 

while we returned with our own 

into our hall 

and entering in 

made fast 

the grassy door.