Robin Williamson

Words and music RW 1978

As I came down by the weary well
Going there to fill my can
My fortune there I do declare
She took me by the hand
The lark gives tongue when summer comes
Though time cracks every song
As if newborn and as forlorn
Twas me that loved her long

The willow tree, the willow tree
That Christ cleft for his flocks
I saw the candles burn in the church
and the door of the many locks
The ocean roared against the shore
In the dark before the day
I pulled my coat up round my throat
And I turned my face away

My curses on the carpenter
Who built the doors so strong
That she and me might parted be
and parted be for long
Before I'm old with wandering
By the high roads and the low
I'll steal his hammer and his nails
Till he can build no more

I wish that I were in her bed
Where I have been before
Her arms entwined around my neck
and her fine breasts rising so
I wish her door was bolted fast
With two locks and a chain
and she and I inside to lie
Safe from the wind and rain

Sun and fire and candlelight
To all the world belong
But the moon pale and the midnight
Let these delight the strong
Where wild geese fly across the sky
Her voice is like the air
and the midnight dark is in her eyes
and the night is on her hair

Rends-moi demain et le lendemain
pour toi j'efface le passe
pour toi j'ecris les heures
laisses-moi derouler
dans le chateau vitreu de tes pensees
tes reves mondains
tes espoirs purs
m'envoies tes baisers quand depart le jour
les nuits s'eloignent tu me manques
car les danses bizarres
de ce monde patinoir
genent maintenant mes yeux.

translation:

Give me tomorrow and the following day
for you I erease the past
for you I write the hours
allow me to unroll myself
in the glassy castle of your thoughts
your worldly dreams
your pure hopes
send me your kisses when the day departs
the nights grow longer I miss you
for the strange dances
of this world skating rink
hinder my eyes just now.

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.

Let me be where love is born
to sail upon a scallop shell
the way no hair of a thought is disturbed
and the sight is still
as moonlight clasps each leaf
of a tree of dust
until it knows it is alive
and lives to be green

tell me will we open the heavens
and disperse ourselves as rain
or passing by some closed door
beam morning at the passing of all dreams
i love you in spirit and in earth
through all and beyond
until sweet kindness fills all space
quieting the howling stars.

I see your faces
blown through the horned clouds
in the silent cities
they call me so loud
come through the fire
come through the foam
come at the world's night
call the herds home
dearest child dearest child
Most High
please don't let our fancy die
till all the grapes are gathered from the vine

when you come
will you sound the harp
give to the blind
cat's eyes in the dark
o will we know you for what you are
you who have come so far
sweetest fair sweetest fair
Most High
don't let them cut that ladder before its time
for all the grapes to be gathered from the vine

He comes again
She comes again
through the mist of time
through the mist of rain
no more words my heart brims over
in the sea of circustance
rows for the rocky shore

we who have sworn
by the dead and the unborn
wheels within wheels
O Most High.

The wheels roll on and on into the older west
seeking for sleep and you found no rest
old genetic train is railed to the ground
it keeps your smiles turned down

dandelion compass and the bible and pin
seen some seasick sailors since the origin
you may sift your bread you can save your bran
its hard to make a living on sandy land

the map of human theatre
its incomplete
favourite parts are broken hearts and poison
sweet
here grins the villain in the smartest car
the hero in the mask of bone
everyone prompting behind the scenes
for their reasons unknown

the map of human theatre
its filled with roads
but favourite routes are concrete boots
and overloads.

Please never name yourself to me
enough lies we see
even the moonlight

come rest, rest awhile beneath the shade
of all the beauty you have made
and shared with me
you are my pride
to think I once though you had died
in cold harbour

it seems there will be no more goodbyes
for you and I
dearest companions

there's time to wipe away what went before
to give away what you have stored
and moor no more moor no more
in cold harbour

it seems there will be no journey's end
for you and I
dearest companions

mother and I we have been singing all we can
I know that you will understand
you can be so strong and kind
no one will be left behind
when we leave
cold harbour
cold harbour
hard hard haven.

Dark eyed lady
I believe you are the one I loved before
you are the one I loved before
beneath the eucalyptus
of your garden door
I see a face within your face
I'm not looking any more
for anyone to take your place

at the noon of night
I believe we'd leave our bodies there below
lying there below
along the hidden ways to go
to the hidden hall
where the friends convene
to sing the songs that cannot be sung
to do the things that cannot be done

I always knew I would meet you again
I believe you are my long lost friend
I will know you when time has an end
and love continues to begin

I believe you are the one
the one I loved before.

You treat me so kindly
how can I repay
seeing your lips talking
so lovely takes my breath away
you make me restless
but you give me words to say
and if I don't get it wrong
I see us all get home

let me be your fantasy
let me kiss your wary foot
let me be your cameraman
your confidant your preacher and your prostitute
let me be your enemy
but over all let me be your friend
cause if I don't get it wrong
I see us all get home

I see us hew great mountains down
I see us in a lovely place
I see us naked of lies together
I see us naked of disgrace
I see trust born in us through honour
and I see peace come
and if I don't get it wrong
I see us all get home.

I paid for a plow, it was heavy as lead.
Tired in my body, I wished for a bed.
When I lay claim to nothing, seems everything is mine.
When I lay claim to nothing...

Dust be diamonds, water be wine
happy happy happy
all the time time time.
Dust be diamonds, water be wine
happy happy happy
all the time time time.
Dust be diamonds, water be wine
happy happy happy
all the time time time.

King Jesus he wispered,'It is not so far'
and Buddha declared, 'It is right where you are'.
Oh tell me how many tears have you cried,
Tell me how many...

Dust be diamonds, water be wine
happy happy happy
all the time time time.
Dust be diamonds, water be wine
happy happy happy
all the time time time.
Dust be diamonds, water be wine
happy happy happy
all the time time time.

The things that you claim are the things you will be,
and the actions of now are tomorrow's memory.
So buy for a million, sell for a dime.
Buy for a million...

Dust be diamonds, water be wine
happy happy happy
all the time time time.
Dust be diamonds, water be wine
happy happy happy
all the time time time.
Dust be diamonds, water be wine
happy happy happy
all the time time time.

Somebody tells you the world's all wrong,
and somebody tells you the road is so long.
And if you have an argument please see your mind.
If you have an argument...

Dust be diamonds, water be wine
happy happy happy
all the time time time.
Dust be diamonds, water be wine
happy happy happy
all the time time time.
Dust be diamonds, water be wine
happy happy happy
all the time time time.

The man on the corner is singing the blues,
and the man in the office is studying the news.
So you're looking for trouble, so trouble you'll find.
So you're looking for trouble...

Dust be diamonds, water be wine
happy happy happy
all the time time time.
Dust be diamonds, water be wine
happy happy happy
all the time time time.
Dust be diamonds, water be wine
happy happy happy
all the time time time.

I used to have to wind up my clockwork heart
and my face was addicted and I did not feel part.
So look at the end act, see my secret crime.
Look at the end act...

Dust be diamonds, water be wine
happy happy happy
all the time time time.
Dust be diamonds, water be wine
happy happy happy
all the time time time.
Dust be diamonds, water be wine
happy happy happy
all the time time time