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Waves On The Shore

by Emily Holbert (Emer nic Aidan)

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1.
The Bard 00:48
THE BARD I am the dawning: light of hope I am the twilight: bringer of peace I am the stone: tablet of history I am the wind: keeper of secrets I am the fire: guide in darkness I am the river: ever moving I am the Raven: first to battle I am the owl: last in flight I am the rabbit: mother of generations I am the salmon: holder of wisdom i am the echo of the hills I am the whisper of the trees I am the silence within song. Who breathes dreams? Who hears the lost music? Who knows the riddle of the ring?
2.
Come and be welcome O wandering minstrel Spreading your music from city to town Be you harper or piper your duty is noble You carry the tunes that shall never die down (chorus) Come from the forest and sit 'round the fire Come from the fields and enter our hall Come drink from the guest-cup, come join in the circle Come and be welcome, ye Bards, one and all Come and be welcome O noble court-poet The treasure of knowledge is kept in your words So unlock your riches of rhyme and of rhythm And let all the wealth of your wisdom be heard Come and be welcome O fair-voicéd singer Weaving the magic of music along You can thunder the heavens to raise up an army Or simply bring laughter and peace with a song Come and be welcome O rare tale-teller With stories of wonder you wisely recall Tell of the heroes that dwell live in our history For tales that are true are the best of them all Come and be welcome O fireside drummer With rhythms that echo the beat of the heart Now waken the music and call to the dancers The drum's beating pulse is a signal to start Come and be welcome where ever you hail from Share all the secrets and joys of your art For every new voice that joins in the chorus Uplifts the spirit and cheers the heart!
3.
Out from the forests, out from the fields Out from the farmlands with swords and with shields Summoned to war we answer the call To fight well with honor or forfeit it all Foot to ground, arm to shield Sword in hand, face the field Sound the horn, beat the drum To battle we come Before stands the foe-force well armored for war Invading the home soil of legend and lore Behind stands the comfort of home, hearth and hall We must fight with honor or forfeit it all Foot to ground, arm to shield Sword in hand, charge the field Draw the bow – arrows fly The first foemen die Over our heads our banner does fly Reflecting the crimson sun burning the sky As red sky above, so the red earth below Stained with the blood of both friend and of foe Foot to ground, arm to shield Sword in hand, gain the field Thrust the spear, hold the wall Don’t let it fall Through the bright dawning ‘till evening we fight Pressing the foemen until they take flight Far from the war-field in our sacred land We defended with honor – triumphant we stand! Foot to ground, arm to shield Swords in hand, leave the field Raise the torch – sets the sun Victory we’ve won!
4.
Soldier Boy 01:34
My father wants the farmer’s boy to claim my marriage hand He who has a herd of cattle and a small house on his land And it’s not a life of farming that I just couldn’t stand But I await my soldier-boy My fine soldier-boy I await my soldier-boy who’s coming home to marry me My mother she would have me wed a merchant in the town He’d dress me fine and buy me wine, then travel all around But I am sure I would forsake each bottle and each gown To await my soldier-boy My fine soldier-boy I await my soldier-boy who’s coming home to marry me My sister dreams I’ll marry to a charming minstrel-lad Who sings for kings in banquet-halls to make the nobles glad But I think a life of wandering would only make me sad So I await my soldier-boy My fine soldier-boy I await my soldier-boy who’s coming home to marry me My brother bids me wait: soldiering’s a noble thing He is fighting for the farmers’ land and singing with the King Although he won’t return with silks or gems he’s coming with a ring And so he’s joined my soldier-boy My fine soldier-boy My brother’s joined my soldier-boy so he may keep him safe for me Now I await two soldier-boys: My fine brother bold And my handsome soldier-boy who’s coming home to marry me
5.
In Harold’s time the hunting was fine And the birds did sweetly sing Then the Bastard came and all the game Became the right of the King But true English lads saw sport to be had And swift to poaching turned And so in that way have we e’en today Our pleasant supper earned (chorus) One for the partridge, Two for the hare, And three for the buck and doe! The hunting of the Good King’s game Shall feed us through the snow Hunting deer or hare in the greenwoods fair The Kings own men do ride Btu we Saxons few are a-hunting too ‘Though cleverly we hide Time and again come the sheriff’s men Hunting poachers ‘round the shire But our prey we’ve shot and we’ll not get caught As we feast around our fire Many say that Port is the finest sport That poaching’s far two cold And so pass the year drinking fine dark Beer Or else some Whiskey bold But they’ll find that Wine is the thief of time And Ale is a bitter foe So the English man has no better friends Then his arrows and longbow Do not reproach the men who poach Within the High King’s land To hunt the gam is a noble aim Amid our merry band For Love rare and true is a hunter too Catching hearts within her snare So give me one kiss and I shall not miss As I hunt the green-woods fair
6.
Come leave the cooling shadows And depart the water's side The battle-plain's atop the hill And from battle none can hide So we'll gather up the weapons And the armor-wagon fill Then without delay at break of day We'll roll on up the hill! (chorus) Roll on up the hill, me boys, Roll on up the hill There's blood and gold for the brave and bold So roll on up the hill! Many men she's conquered 'Ere they've reached the battle plain They stagger naught a fourth-way up Then come back down again She causes old men's hearts to fail And breaks a young man's will But we'll not quail and we'll not fail We'll roll on up the hill! Midway stands the Runestone Etched with words that all may ken The Runestone watches, half-way up To account the fighting men To remind us all of honor Better prized than gold or skill And to strengthen up our spirits as We roll on up the hill! Atop awaits the foemen And atop rises the dawn And soon we'll face the battle With the sword and spear and song Atop awaits the spoils For all those who prove their skill Atop we'll rise and seize our prize So roll on up the hill! The fighting halts with evening And there's fire and food below The hill is steep but you must sleep So down to camp you go Tonight's for love and dancing And be sure you drink your fill 'Cause you know that come tomorrow You must roll back up that hill! The hill awaits to challenge All the heroes young and old But the road to glory's always steep And Victory loves the bold Still the hill has always stood here And I fear she always will So until she falls like Trojan walls We'll roll on up the hill
7.
Warharvest 03:39
All in the heat of summer when the corn is rising high We gather shields and armor for we know the harvest’s nigh For as some me cart the corn-seed, and some men cart the hay We shall cart our war-gear when it is our harvest day The hay is ripe and ready standing golden in the field But our bowmen and our fletchers have a better harvest-yield For as some me cart the corn-seed, and some men cart the hay We shall cart the arrow sheaves when it is our harvest day Just as young lads and lasses dance and sing the harvest in We’ll raise our voices singing when the battle’s dance begins For as some me cart the corn-seed, and some men cart the hay We shall cart the songs of war when it is our harvest day Some men use their long sharp scythes to cut down what they’ve sown But we’ve our swords and axes and our foemen down we’ve mown For as some me cart the corn-seed, and some men cart the hay We shall cart the foemen dead when it is our harvest day When the battle’s over we’ll gather what we’ve sown We’ll take their gold and cattle and most everything they own For as some me cart the corn-seed, and some men cart the hay We shall cart the spoils of war when it is our harvest day Just as all the farmers give John Barley to the fire We’ll honor those who’ve fallen with a roaring funeral pyre For as some me cart the corn-seed, and some men cart the hay We shall cart home hero-tales when it is our harvest day Some men cart the corn-seed, and some men cart the hay And we shall cart home glory when it is our harvest day!
8.
In spring our love blossomed, In spring our love bloomed I know not then that my true love was doomed For he was a warrior and I but a maid And in springtime to war my true love was bade I’m like the moon shining over the land I’ve waxed and waned thrice ‘ere I last held your hand Be careful, my love, who once shone like the sun For the sight of this night tells me war has begun And I’ll be the mourning-dove, you are the wren ‘Tis I who shall weep ‘ere the hunt of the men For when winter’s over, yea, after the war It is then that the wren may be flying no more Bravely he fought, they said, bravely he died A sword in his hand, a true friend by his side With the ravens above him on his lips was my name But a glorious death is a death just the same Six times a turning, and six times again From springtime to spring ‘tis but I who remain Last spring brought me true love, last spring brought the war Now the spring cannot bring me true love anymore
9.
At a tournament grand a young man takes the field Armed with his sword and his bright blazoned shield And the bow to his lady says I’ll never yield Here I stand, to fight for your honor (chorus) For your honor I will inspire For your honor I shall not tire For your honor I will require All I do in your name to be For your honor To the side of the lists stands a young maiden fair Her love’s family colors all bound in her hair Her grace and her beauty quietly declare Here I wait to cheer for your honor Over the field sits the king on his throne With his queen at his side their oath they intone By sword and by scepter our duty is sworn Here we sit to guide you to honor To bring oneself honor can lead you to fame But to honor another is a far nobler aim So for love or for kingdom let your deeds proclaim All I do, I do for your honor
10.
Though great were they who disputed your claim You defended ‘gainst many a lord You are the true heir to the wild Northlands fair And have proven your fate with your sword Accept now the vows of your champions all Be proud in their fame and renown Stand bold in your hall, you who’ve conquered them all And arise to take up your crown (chorus) Arise young wolf, arise young wolf Take up the crown of the land The crown of might afire with light And the North star a jewel in its band The Line of the North behind stretches far The howls of the old wolves still ring Now lift your head high, add your voice to their cry And the young wolves shall echo their king The pack is assembled to hunt once again With a glorious future to win In the red of your dawn you shall lead the pack on As the banner to all the wolf-kin Raise to your lady the Trillium crown The gems of the North all agleam No gold or jewels fair could ever compare To the beauty of Ealdormere’s Queen She’s the one who inspired the honor you’ve won And now trusted to rule in your stead She’s the mistress of grace and the patron of peace She’s the flower to your bright field of red Treasure the folk and the lands of the North For their loyalty never shall tire Whether rallied all in a great timber hall Or gathered as friends round the fire With you as our guide the north-folk shall rise Listening well to the council you bring The North Star shines now on the mightiest brow And we’ll follow our newly-crowned King
11.
12.
Bright are the oars of the fiery ship That is traveling into the west Bearing the knowledge of long days past To enlighten the Isles of the Blest Gentle the fingers of rosy-hued dawn Sharp the bright sword of the sun Rising together the glorious light Of a new day of promise begun (chorus) The mead flows gold as the setting sun The wine flows red as the dawn Raise a toast to a new day begun And sing praise to the old days gone Hard was the work for the sweet golden mead Of the bees ‘midst the Northern flowers While peaceful the slumber of deep purple grapes That have ripened in long Southern hours Now is the time for the mead to be poured As the drowsy bees seek out their rest Now is the time for the wine to be poured For the harvest has brought in the best Autumn came clothed in riches and jewels Leaves shining with amber and gold The harvest-wealth ever reflected in fires Burning brightly to counter the cold Reflected the blaze of autumn still shines In the warm amber light of the spring Who knows what riches, with blossom and bloom The passage of seasons shall bring?
13.
14.
Green, green grow the field where purple blooms the heather And blue, blue is the rolling sea that encircles our lands forever Fair Eriu and Alba are ever besieged By wave over wave of invaders. The Fomorians first by the Danaan defeated Then Mil's sons, the first human raiders. They'll not be pushed underground: They are as waves upon our shores Each one reaching, touching, passing, Returning to the sea once more. Gaul's hill-forts now fly Roman standards: Recruited, Her sons fight their kin. Though our names they shall change and a wall they shall build Beyond that, they never shall win: The Empire's troops must march on, They are as waves upon our shores Each one reaching, touching, passing, Returning to the sea once more. Invited, the kinsman of Hengeist have come; The White Horse runs swift at their prow. Generations shall pay the hired army's price And they call us the 'foreigners' now They too shall have prices to pay: They are as waves upon our shores Each one reaching, touching, passing, Returning to the sea once more. The North Sea betrays the Northern shore's trust As she bears the dragon-ships forth. Norsemen a-Viking for women and land Which they claim as their own from henceforth But a heart can't be stolen by force They are as waves upon our shores Each one reaching, touching, passing, Returning to the sea once more. Though the tides of invasion still crash on our shores The souls of our first ones still live Memories are passed from parent to child What more have we left to give? They are as seeds in the ground We are as waves upon our shores Each one reaching, touching, passing, Returning to the sea once more.

about

This album presents an "auditory snapshot" of my early days as a bard and songwriter, and is the result of many music-filled weekends spent with Heather Dale and Peter Westergaard, to whom I owe many thanks.

credits

released August 1, 2009

Produced/recorded/mixed by Heather Dale at The Finishing Room (Toronto).
All songs written and sung by Emily Holbert. Percussion: Emily Holbert. Backing vocals, recorder, hammered dulcimer, percussion: Heather Dale.
Copyright Amphisbaena Music 2009.

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Emily Holbert Kitchener, Ontario

Emily Holbert, known as “Emer nic Aidan” in the SCA, is a Celtic-inspired singer/songwriter based in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario. Her “bardic-folk” songs tell tales of love and valour, whether recounting and reinventing Celtic mythologies and faerie tales, or recording ‘historical’ deeds within the SCA's Kingdom of Ealdormere.
Let her take you back to a time when bards sang around the fire!
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