Lyrics

[ Original Song Cycle ] [ The Teaching Song ] [ Windwood ] [ Holly, Oak & Ivy ]

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Bonus Tracks

The Holly King - Sung by Windwood

Sung to the tune “Noel Nouvoulet” (traditional)

Sing we of a mystery, now as long ago
Blood red holly berries, blood upon on the snow
The Oak King shall rise, the waxing year to bring
Therefore bid we farewell to the Holly King

Now in deep midwinter all seems in a trance
Comes the golden Oak King in his age old dance
Comes he to slay, yet honor he does he bring
To his fallen brother the darksome Holly King

In the bright midsummer the year's wheel turned around
Then shall be the Oak King's blood upon the ground
Ever it comes, once more the year’s waning
Then shall be victorious the Darksome Holly King

Sing we of the Mystery now as long ago
Blood red holly berries, blood upon on the snow
The Oak king shall rise, the waxing year to bring
Therefore bid we farewell to the Holly King.

Origin Unknown

Notes: I discovered this chant on the internet while researching tales of the Holly King and the Oak King. I intended to use it for my Quickbeam Yule ritual in December 2000. I took on the role of the Holly King and was beheaded by my brother the Oak King as embodied by YellowWolf. They were supposed to chant this song over my fallen body, but everyone was so excited about the new king and the promise of the waxing sun that they forgot all about this chant. I wanted to include it here because I think it is a good chant for the season, and I wanted to finally honor the Holly King
– Windwood.

Recorded and mastered on a Yamaha Boss BR-532 Digital Studio at the Holtpack Homestead.

The Song of the Greenwitch - Written and Sung by Windwood

You are our Lady, born of the Green
You are our Lady, born of the Green
Made by the mothers, your daughters, your seed
Made by the mothers, your daughters, your seed
Child of the Ocean, born of the Land
Child of the Ocean, born of the Land
Arid and dry are the dust and the sand
Arid and dry are the dust and the sand

Chorus:

Carry our hopes and carry our needs
Carry our hopes and carry our needs
Down to the river, out to the Sea
Down to the river, out to the Sea
Carry our hopes and carry our needs
Carry our hopes and carry our needs
Down to the river, out to the Sea
Down to the river, out to the Sea

The keepers of lore, the keepers of birth
The keepers of lore, the keepers of birth
Shall weave you and raise you with greens of the Earth
Shall weave you and raise you with greens of the Earth
Woven of branches, blossoms and leaves
Woven of branches, blossoms and leaves
Gathered from vines and bushes and trees
Gathered from vines and bushes and trees

Double Chorus:

Favored by men who know death and rebirth
Favored by men who know death and rebirth
Who court you and woo you with gifts of the Earth
Who court you and woo you with gifts of the Earth
You are our Lady, born of the Green,
You are our Lady, born of the Green,
Daughter of water, child of the Sea
Daughter of water, child of the Sea

Double Chorus:

Dry is the Earth in this desert land
Dry is the Earth in this desert land
Thirsting for water stirred by your hand
Thirsting for water stirred by your hand
Go to the river, flow to the deep
Go to the river, flow to the deep
Seek for your mother under the sea
Seek for your mother under the sea

Double Chorus:

Notes: This chant was written for Aspen Grove’s MabonFest in September 2003. It is an original piece that was inspired by the ongoing drought that currently plagues the state of Utah. It was forged from a combination of John Cooper’s vision for MabonFest 2003 and my own interpretation of the legend of the Greenwitch. The chant itself so captured me once it was recorded that I could not set it aside. I kept singing it and listening to it over and over. It did not finally release me until a lengthy dry spell was broken by a significant thunderstorm. The chant was a gift from the spirits of the land to our community – Windwood.

Recorded and mastered on a Yamaha Boss BR-532 Digital Studio at the Holtpack Homestead.


The Circle Song - Written and Sung by Windwood

I’m goin’ down
To where the people gather
Stand on sacred ground
Back where I belong.

And we’ll stand in circle
Joined hand-in-hand
And we’ll raise our voices
As we sing our song.

As the incense rises
Up to the sky
With the salt and water
Cleansing heart and mind

Then we call the quarters
To come and join our circle
Earth, air, and water
And the passion of fire.

The priest and priestess center
And cast the circle true
So nothing bad might enter
A space that’s set apart.

Then the Goddess joins us -
Life, love and beauty
Are the gifts she brings us
When we know our heart

Then the Horned One dances
All around the altar
Sending lustful glances
Toward his Lady bright.

But she keeps her distance
Though her smile is wide
Then his firm persistence
Finally changed her mind

As they come together
With the knife and chalice
Their creative essence
Stirred into the wine

And I glance around me
As the chalice passes
In each face I see
The God and Goddess shine.

I’m goin’ down
To where the people gather
Stand on sacred ground
Back where I belong.

And we’ll stand in circle
Joined hand-in-hand
And we’ll raise our voices
As we sing our song.

Merry meet and merry
Merry part and then
When we are together
Merry meet again.


Notes: Pieces of this song were running around through my head in the weeks prior to the compilation of this release of the Community Song Cycle. The pieces finally fell into place just as we prepared to re-master the entire collection of songs on December 18, 2003. I was able to record it specifically as a contribution to this collection. The images within the song reflect elements of actual public and semi-public rituals I have attended. In each public ritual that I have served as priest, I always took the time to the look into the faces of each person who stood in circle with me. What I saw reflected there, I hope is somehow reflected in this song – Windwood.


Recorded and mastered on a Yamaha Boss BR-532 Digital Studio at the Holtpack Homestead.