THE WHITE LADY OF ROTHESAY CASTLE
Posted: Tuesday, 22 July 2008 |
Still she is tormented
Her presence still is here
Still she weeps with broken heart
On Rothesay Castles stairs
It was but many years ago
She sat upon her stairs
Her voice so sweet her skin so soft
Daisies filled her hair
Father o father she did shout
From her window high
To the court yard below
And the towers so high.
I hear you my girl
I hear you my dear
I hear your voice so sweet
Her father would reply
I cannot come to see you now
The Norsemen have arrived
I must stay and fight them all
Or sure we all will die
Oh father Oh father watch your back
Her soft voice did reply
But a sword of steel from a Norsemans strike
Put an end to his reply.
You shall marry a Norseman
This day the Viking said
O no not I said Isobel
And plunged a dagger in her chest
She colapsed up on her stairs in pain
But still her heat raced strong
For I am Lady Isobel
This castle is where I belong
Now I am here year after year
Watching all of you.
The swans with sygnets
The visitors and the dungeons too
Be not afraid to come and see
Where I have lived long years
But watch yourself underfoot
When climbing the bloody stairs
Lady Isobel
Her presence still is here
Still she weeps with broken heart
On Rothesay Castles stairs
It was but many years ago
She sat upon her stairs
Her voice so sweet her skin so soft
Daisies filled her hair
Father o father she did shout
From her window high
To the court yard below
And the towers so high.
I hear you my girl
I hear you my dear
I hear your voice so sweet
Her father would reply
I cannot come to see you now
The Norsemen have arrived
I must stay and fight them all
Or sure we all will die
Oh father Oh father watch your back
Her soft voice did reply
But a sword of steel from a Norsemans strike
Put an end to his reply.
You shall marry a Norseman
This day the Viking said
O no not I said Isobel
And plunged a dagger in her chest
She colapsed up on her stairs in pain
But still her heat raced strong
For I am Lady Isobel
This castle is where I belong
Now I am here year after year
Watching all of you.
The swans with sygnets
The visitors and the dungeons too
Be not afraid to come and see
Where I have lived long years
But watch yourself underfoot
When climbing the bloody stairs
Lady Isobel
Posted on THE MIDGE at 18:50
THE WITCHES DAUGHTER
Posted: Thursday, 24 July 2008 |
A dark night, knock at my door
A mother with a child so poor
Oh help me Janet help my child
He ate some flowers out in the wild
My help I will give to you
A child should feel no pain
But you must tell no one of this
Or I will burn in vain
Trust me Janet and trust my word
Now help me please o please you must
The night is late the sky is dark
In the corner sits her large black cat
Three sticks I place upon my fire
A pot of scented water
First a frog and then a toad and teeth from an Otter
A rabbit鈥檚 tail and sheep鈥檚 bone now I stir the water
Boil it must boil it must
Before the boy can drink it
It will make him sick tonight
Now make him swallow this Limpet
Oh Janet you know what you do
Of course of course of course I do
My mother showed me this and that
And taught me all she knew
They drowned my mother by the Kirk
When I was very young
They think they know what is right
But I know it is wrong
Now take your son and be gone
But do not speak to no one
Pay me two silver crowns
Your boy will be well in morning
The morning comes the boy is dead
Janet鈥檚 potions killed him
Who shall I tell who shall I tell
I need to tell someone
You took him to Janet Nicol
The drowned witches daughter
We plunged her once and plunged her twice
By the kirks cold water
Now I must go and get some men.
Before the hour is late
Before the court she will stand
But soon burn on the stake
I did not know what flowers he swallowed
If he swallowed any
My potions cure the young and old
And have cured many
It was not me that killed the boy
But you all condemn me
Just like you done unto my mother
May hell come and take you
The flames reach high at Gallows Craig
The glowing wood its embers sprays
But Janet is tied to the post
A welcome sight for all or most
At the churchyard the boy is buried
His mother home her ruined world
She looks out at her garden wild
Where days ago played her child
The garden flowers bloom so bright
But there is something not quite right
The one she used to watch and love
The one she calls her Foxglove
A mother with a child so poor
Oh help me Janet help my child
He ate some flowers out in the wild
My help I will give to you
A child should feel no pain
But you must tell no one of this
Or I will burn in vain
Trust me Janet and trust my word
Now help me please o please you must
The night is late the sky is dark
In the corner sits her large black cat
Three sticks I place upon my fire
A pot of scented water
First a frog and then a toad and teeth from an Otter
A rabbit鈥檚 tail and sheep鈥檚 bone now I stir the water
Boil it must boil it must
Before the boy can drink it
It will make him sick tonight
Now make him swallow this Limpet
Oh Janet you know what you do
Of course of course of course I do
My mother showed me this and that
And taught me all she knew
They drowned my mother by the Kirk
When I was very young
They think they know what is right
But I know it is wrong
Now take your son and be gone
But do not speak to no one
Pay me two silver crowns
Your boy will be well in morning
The morning comes the boy is dead
Janet鈥檚 potions killed him
Who shall I tell who shall I tell
I need to tell someone
You took him to Janet Nicol
The drowned witches daughter
We plunged her once and plunged her twice
By the kirks cold water
Now I must go and get some men.
Before the hour is late
Before the court she will stand
But soon burn on the stake
I did not know what flowers he swallowed
If he swallowed any
My potions cure the young and old
And have cured many
It was not me that killed the boy
But you all condemn me
Just like you done unto my mother
May hell come and take you
The flames reach high at Gallows Craig
The glowing wood its embers sprays
But Janet is tied to the post
A welcome sight for all or most
At the churchyard the boy is buried
His mother home her ruined world
She looks out at her garden wild
Where days ago played her child
The garden flowers bloom so bright
But there is something not quite right
The one she used to watch and love
The one she calls her Foxglove
Posted on THE MIDGE at 19:56
ROTHESAY FAIR
Posted: Sunday, 27 July 2008 |
The train comes ta a shuddering stop
Maw gets up puts on her coat
Wake up yer dad hes been snoring
Since we left glesga this morning
Were doon the water fae the fair
Me Maw and Daddie
The rain is falling at Wemyss Bay
The steamer is nae running
Up the pier comes a big fat man
I think he likes the chippy
We have a broken gangway
Well fix it in a jiffy
Maw that was sare a cuff in the ear
Ive told yee no to laugh at folk
But Maw the man is so big
A think he wull sink the boat
Oh look there's the Station Bar
And a twinkle in Dad's eyes
No Malcom yell have nae mare
Its that whiskey a despise
All on board shouts the big fat man
So everyone can hear
Am just aboot tae laugh again
Oh yes my ear
On the steamer up on the deck
But the wind is blowin
The sky is grey the clouds are dark
And the rain is falling
I put ma fingers in ma ears
Dad tells a story
If he's told it wance he's told it twice
Aboot Rothesay in all its glory
I noo fed up Maws dane some knitting
Maw say's it will no be lang
I hope no maw why is that
Dads started singing a sang
When the mist creeps o'er the Cumbraes
And Arran peaks are gray,
And the great black hills, like sleepin' kings,
Sit grand roun' Rothesay Bay.
Ocht we all heard that a thousand times
I will sing it a thousand mare
As the steamer sterts ta slow down
And rests at Rothesay Pier
AWE THE FAIR
Maw gets up puts on her coat
Wake up yer dad hes been snoring
Since we left glesga this morning
Were doon the water fae the fair
Me Maw and Daddie
The rain is falling at Wemyss Bay
The steamer is nae running
Up the pier comes a big fat man
I think he likes the chippy
We have a broken gangway
Well fix it in a jiffy
Maw that was sare a cuff in the ear
Ive told yee no to laugh at folk
But Maw the man is so big
A think he wull sink the boat
Oh look there's the Station Bar
And a twinkle in Dad's eyes
No Malcom yell have nae mare
Its that whiskey a despise
All on board shouts the big fat man
So everyone can hear
Am just aboot tae laugh again
Oh yes my ear
On the steamer up on the deck
But the wind is blowin
The sky is grey the clouds are dark
And the rain is falling
I put ma fingers in ma ears
Dad tells a story
If he's told it wance he's told it twice
Aboot Rothesay in all its glory
I noo fed up Maws dane some knitting
Maw say's it will no be lang
I hope no maw why is that
Dads started singing a sang
When the mist creeps o'er the Cumbraes
And Arran peaks are gray,
And the great black hills, like sleepin' kings,
Sit grand roun' Rothesay Bay.
Ocht we all heard that a thousand times
I will sing it a thousand mare
As the steamer sterts ta slow down
And rests at Rothesay Pier
AWE THE FAIR
Posted on THE MIDGE at 10:15
ON A LILLY POND
Posted: Monday, 28 July 2008 |
The sun shines on a Lilly pond
On a bright summer day
The Lilies flowers open wide
Catching every ray.
These rays of gold from far away
Reach this distant pond
Millions of miles they鈥檝e travelled
To bring summer warmth
The boatmen scurry in between
Lilies pads and stems
The dragonfly it flutters by
Or stops to rest its wings
The Coot with nest on Lilly pad
To house her treasured eggs
The Moorhen walks its way across
With light and gracious legs
The golden rays triumph again
The Lilies set their seeds
The Coot with chicks by her side
Hide amongst the weeds
The lilies flowers have all but gone
The Coot her chicks fled
As autumn days creep slowly in
And cool the golden rays
Soon the winter will arrive
It does so year by year
But lilies underneath the ice
They need not fear
For spring will come soon enough
And with it bring some warmth
To put an end to winters ice
On a Lilly pond
The lilies again show their stems
Their pads float on the water
Their flowers wait until golden rays
Again shine on the water
Posted on THE MIDGE at 18:58