Seth Lakeman

Staring at the dark with hungry eyes
The moonlight flickered and a shadow cried
A gold ring flashed as the howling stopped
I called her name as the west wind dropped
I called her name as the west wind dropped

I brushed her on the arm with a silver cane
Took her by the hand and saw her pain
My breath smelt like a burning house
With bitter cold words upon my mouth
With bitter cold words upon my mouth

A tall dark figure is on the loose
With bright sharp teeth to bite the truth
I'll steal your honour and tell you lies
And leave you all alone in a blood red sky
I'll leave you all alone in a blood red sky

You'll wake up late in the midday sun
Reach for a shadow but I'll be gone
Through empty fields, storm blown trees
Praying to the night to set you free
Praying to the night to set you free

A tall dark figure is on the loose
With bright sharp teeth to bite the truth
I'll steal your honour and tell you lies
And leave you all alone in a blood red sky
I'll leave you all alone in a blood red sky

Stained glass windows and shattered pains
A fairytale story and autumn rains
A falling shadow and a cold embrace
Cross your heart and you'll see my face
Cross your heart and you'll see my face

A tall dark figure is on the loose
With bright sharp teeth to bite the truth
I'll steal your honour and tell you lies
And leave you all alone in a blood red sky

A tall dark figure is on the loose
With bright sharp teeth to bite the truth
I'll steal your honour and tell you lies
And leave you all alone in a blood red sky

A tall dark figure is on the loose
With bright sharp teeth to bite the truth
I'll steal your honour and tell you lies
And leave you all alone in a blood red sky
I'll leave you all alone in a blood red sky
I'll leave you all alone in a blood red sky

Welcome to this garden girl
Cold is the rose where the white lilies blow
A heavenly paradise place
Where all the pleasant little fruits do grow
Here are lovers they lie down
For the night
'Til cherry red their hearts are burning bright

So cold is the heart of the cherry red girl
So cold is the heart of the cherry red girl

Caught in the dark is the cherry red girl
Torn apart from an innocent world

Caught in the dark is the cherry red girl
Torn apart from an innocent world

Caught in the dark is the cherry red girl
Torn apart from an innocent world

Caught in the dark is the cherry red girl
Torn apart from an innocent world

Pick a fruit from her fine wardrobe
In oriental pearl and the whole double row
When her lovely little daughter shows
She looks like rosebuds filled with snow
Let no peer or prince from here
Or up on high
Meet cherry red until their hearts are burning bright

So cold is the heart of the cherry red girl
So cold is the heart of the cherry red girl

Caught in the dark is the cherry red girl
Torn apart from an innocent world

Caught in the dark is the cherry red girl
Torn apart from an innocent world

Caught in the dark is the cherry red girl
Torn apart from an innocent world

Caught in the dark is the cherry red girl
Torn apart from an innocent world

Innocent our angel still
With threatening eyes and a stare that could kill
Her brows like bows do stand
Straight in the heart, with no ring in the hand
Let no sacred fruit from here or up on high
Meet cherry red until their hearts are burning bright

So cold is the heart of the cherry red girl
So cold is the heart of the cherry red girl

Caught in the dark is the cherry red girl
Torn apart from an innocent world

Caught in the dark is the cherry red girl
Torn apart from an innocent world

Caught in the dark is the cherry red girl
Torn apart from an innocent world

Caught in the dark is the cherry red girl
Torn apart from an innocent world

Caught in the dark is the cherry red girl
Torn apart from an innocent world

Caught in the dark is the cherry red girl
Torn apart from an innocent world

Caught in the dark is the cherry red girl
Torn apart from an innocent world

Caught in the dark is the cherry red girl
Torn apart from an innocent world

One fateful night
I woke to hear that sound
Like a gun shot
Both windows shaking loud
Great lengthy cries
They came racing from the sky
From a fearsome wreck
With grey daggers stuck in her neck

Crimson dawn, my heart was torn
A midnight rescue we were called upon
Freedom fire with burning eyes
Her figure tangled up in turning tides
So I cut her free and fine

This floating town
It had broke up, run aground
When the call came out
To put fair Charlotte in
So we ploughed those waves
With a hundred left to save
And in fading light
Well I held on strong and tight

Crimson dawn, my heart was torn
A midnight rescue we were called upon
Freedom fire with burning eyes
Her figure tangled up in turning tides

I'll stay with you, till the morning tides
I'll set you free

Sharp rocks we braved
For the last hand I would save
Was a beauty fair with wild, torn, tangled hair
Thick rope entwined, well I cut her free and fine
Into a fast embrace
Well I held her face to face

Crimson dawn, my heart was torn
A midnight rescue we were called upon
Freedom fire with burning eyes
Her figure tangled up in turning tides
So I cut her free and fine
So I cut her free and fine

I'll stay with you, till the morning tides
I'll set you free

I'll stay with you, till the morning tides
I'll set you free

It was a fateful night
When I woke to hear that sound
Like a gun shot
With both windows shaking loud

High waves she cut them up in two
The storm's eye we could see
With her tattered sails shaking in the gale
A terror for a sight was she

Cutting through the clouds the moon swept the deck
Her wooden bones all alight
With a quick glimpse, ghostly was the wreck
I couldn't see a soul in sight

She's like a feather in a storm
Blowing on the wind
She's like a feather in a storm
When the devil threw those cold scarlet eyes
Two beacons bright

Timber cracked as she broke upon her back
Her wooden bones all exposed
Stuck there fast with a weather-beaten mast
A pale strong figure he arose

Then standing at the helm, the devil I could tell
His silver cloak all alight
With two burning eyes dancing in the sky
A terror on a winter's night

She's like a feather in a storm
Blowing on the wind
She's like a feather in a storm
When the devil threw those cold scarlet eyes

Two beacons burning brightly on the tide
A fair warning to return another night
Go quickly when he's chasing you with flames burning bright

She's like a feather in a storm
Blowing on the wind
She's like a feather in a storm
When the devil threw those cold scarlet eyes

She's like a feather in a storm
Blowing on the wind
She's like a feather in a storm
When the devil threw those cold scarlet eyes
Two beacons bright
Cold scarlet eyes
Two beacons bright

I heard a loud knock upon my door
A sweet stranger she entered in
The night was dark, the wind it roared
Beauty she did bring

Greed and gold
Greed and gold
Forever the loneliest road

Welcome fine lady, won't you stay this night?
For fortunes may unfold
I see precious jewels you keep so tight
Like a sweet child out from the cold

Greed and gold
Greed and gold
Forever the loneliest road

A silent room in the dead of night
Two lovers lay there entwined
From a deep sleep to her bed I creep
Great treasures there I find
The midnight moon all across her face
It steals her out from a dream
The mirror smashed, sharp silver flashed
Broken beauty she did scream, crying:

Greed and gold
Greed and gold
Forever the loneliest road

Greed and gold
Greed and gold
Forever the loneliest road

Early in the morn you will find me gone
I'll seek a dark distant shore
I'll walk in fear but always hear
Her knocking at my front door
She's crying:

Greed and gold
Greed and gold
Forever the loneliest road

Greed and gold
Greed and gold
Forever the loneliest road

Sunday morning, in the summertime
Over worship we hurlers climb
Over mountains, valleys deep
Those bells are ringing around our feet

"Come! Take this morning" cried the priest,
"For all good hurlers are the Devil's feast!
He will curse you where you stand
Mark his circle upon our land"

"Oh hurler boys, come on make your choice."
He said "Oh, you hurler boys, come on, make your choice -
Where you stand!
Where you stand!"

Bold, brave and strong, we ran the day
'Til thunder rolled in with silver rain
Through our fingers; down our backs -
The curse was rising and we were trapped

"Oh hurler boys, come on make your choice."
He said "Oh, you hurler boys, come on, make your choice - Where you stand!
Where you stand!"

Tall, straight and stubborn, we face the sky
That lightening pierced us, our voices cried out

Bloody silver, our hearts of stone,
We make no shadows, we stand alone

"Oh hurler boys, well come on make your choice."
He said "Oh you hurler boys, come on, make a choice
He said "Oh you hurler boys, come on, make your choice,
He said "Oh you hurler boys, come on, make your choice -
Where you stand!

You hurler boys,
Where you stand!

You hurler boys,
Where you stand!

You hurler boys,
Where you stand!

You hurler boys,
Where you stand!

Where you stand!"

A year at sea, your letter came
To shatter all my plans
You set me free, changed your name
I stretch out these cold hands

On board ship the rumours ride
And no-one meets my eye
I've thrown your ring out on the tide
I pray my curses fly

To haunt you
Haunt your bed
Tap the windows, awake in dread
I'd pray that you'd loved me instead
But I'll haunt you

I've walked alone upon this deck
A thousand times or more
Half a year from my return
These cries fly back to shore

You promised me our love was strong
You said that you'd be true
Go tell yourself that I'm long gone
'Cause here's what I will do

I'll haunt you
Haunt your bed
Tap the windows, awake in dread
Pray that you'd loved me instead
I'll haunt you, I'll haunt your bed
And I'll haunt you
Sleep in fear
Whisper secrets in your ear
A world away but I'll be near
I'll haunt you, I'll haunt you here

And I'll haunt you
Haunt your bed
Tap the windows, awake in dread
Pray that you'd loved me instead
I'll haunt you

Fear me
Whenever you're sleeping
I will be watching over you

Whenever you're sleeping
I will be watching over you

Whenever you're sleeping
I will be watching over you

Whenever you're sleeping

A year at sea since your letter came
To shatter all my plans
You set me free, changed your name
I stretch out these cold hands

To haunt you
Haunt your bed
Tap the windows, awake in dread
Pray that you'd loved me instead
But I'll haunt you, I'll haunt your bed

And I'll haunt you
Sleep in fear
Whisper secrets in your ear
A world away but I'll be near
I'll haunt you, I'll haunt you here

And I'll haunt you
Haunt your bed
Tap the windows, awake in dread
Pray that you'd loved me instead
But I'll haunt you

Fear me
Whenever you're sleeping
I will be watching over you

Whenever you're sleeping
I will be watching over you

Whenever you're sleeping
I will be watching over you

Whenever you're sleeping

Kind friends, well gather round
There's a dream that I had late last night
There's plenty of land, good soil and sea
We won't have to struggle and fight
It's a poor man's heaven we'll have our way
We won't have nothing to fear, no
With real feather beds to rest their heads
We'll all have one of our own

It's a poor man's heaven to be free
A poor man's heaven to believe
It's a poor man's vision up above
A poor man's heaven to be loved

We'll run up their banks, we'll shoot their cranks
We won't give a damn who we hurt
With the rich man's son we'll have our fun
We'll stick him there shovelling dirt
We'll live on champagne and drive that train
Drink from the day until midnight
If someone should dare to ask our fare
We'll punch him and put out his lights

It's a poor man's heaven to be free
A poor man's heaven to believe
It's a poor man's vision up above
A poor man's heaven to be loved

We'll live at our ease, take all we please
We won't have no-one to fend for
If someone gets smart we'll take him apart
And spread him all over the floor
It's a poor man's heaven we'll have our way
We won't have nothing to fear, no
With real feather beds to rest our heads
We'll all have one of our own

It's a poor man's heaven to be free
A poor man's heaven to believe
It's a poor man's vision up above
A poor man's heaven to be loved

It's a poor man's heaven

It's a poor man's heaven

It's a poor man's heaven

We left our sweethearts and our wives
Along the pier
"Cheer up", they said
"You'll soon return in half the year"
So we sailed up north
To reach the ice
We took full sail
Each boat was manned with guns and rope
To hunt that whale

We know we'll be fighting in this frost on our own
And we'll see no sound nor sights of our homes
And our lovers they'll be waiting there 'til spring
It's a ramble and a race to be king
A race to be king

Now we'd been sailing a league or three
To glimpse that shore
The night was dark and won no hearts so we stayed on board
There fired a shot along our deck and down one side
And it cracked our mast and swept in fast
Our bird she cried out

That we know we'll be fighting in this frost on our own
And we'll see no sound nor sights of our homes
And our lovers they'll be waiting there 'til spring
It's a ramble and a race to be king
A race to be king

A race to be king

Race to be king

A race to be king

And we know we'll be fighting in this frost on our own
And we'll see no sound nor sights of our homes
And our lovers they'll be waiting there 'til spring
It's a ramble and a race to be king
A race to be king

A race to be king

A race to be king

A race to be king

At fair Mounts Bay on that Christmas week
Such a raging storm no man could speak
A lifeboat thundered through an angry sea
Called Solomon Browne and her company

Good courage it was called
On our heroes brave and bold
Good courage it was called upon that night

Now this stricken coaster called the Union Star
Her maiden voyage she never thought that far
With Captain Morton and his four man crew
A woman to save and her daughters two

Never had a lifeboat fought in vain
She could have made a dash for port but they tried again
All sixteen perished in that mighty wave
It tossed them overboard into a watery grave

Good courage it was called
On our heroes brave and bold
Good courage it was called upon that night

Back at Penlee Point time stood still
For twelve young children cried for their fathers killed
A nation shed tears for years as the news went around
Of the constant courage of Solomon Browne

Good courage it was called
On our heroes brave and bold
Good courage it was called upon that night

Good courage it was called
On our heroes brave and bold
Good courage it was called upon that night

I come to you with honour
I come to you in vain
I've come to you my true love
In the greenwood you were slain

I do as much for my love
As any young man may
I'll sit and mourn her memory
For twelve months and a day

The sound of a drum
Is beating all around
Like a shadow on the run
Caught in the dark
And lover lay down
She lay down

I'll think upon this garden
The purest footprints walked
The fairest flower now blossomed
Has now withered to a stalk

Your lips they are cold sweetheart
Your breath is earthly strong
And if I kiss your cold clay lips
My time here may not be long

The sound of a drum
Is beating all around
Like a shadow on the run
Caught in the dark
And lover lay down
She lay down

Lover lay down
She lay down

The sound of a drum
I hear it beating all around me
Like a shadow on the run
Caught in the dark

The sound of a drum
I hear it beating all around me
Like a shadow on the run
Caught in the dark
She lay down