The Herald S Complaint

The Herald’s Complaint though it's Winter's dark night “Forgive me, Oh King, for my road-weary state For it's Spring in your hearts though it's Winter outside But urgently you must attend When I was just a pursuivant at Herald High, Another Man’s War For I come from the kingdom that lies to your South chorus I studied with a conscience as the days went by; And our land is besieged by foul men I listened to the lectures and took note of every phrase, The king sits upon his fair throne in his court words and music by JP Andrews Oh, lend us your swords, your shields, and your strength And I gave my life to learning Hearing tales of fine crops and good store © Raven Boy Music, ASCAP To stave off the breach of our walls the correct heraldic ways. When into his bailey there rides a young page This foe is too great, we cannot hold long Elizabeth’s Song But with evening come and classes closed Dismounting before the king’s door. Make haste before our kingdom falls!” and midnight candles burnt, Come all ye who would wisdom own I would lie in bed and hearken back “Forgive me, Oh King, for my road-weary state “Your peril is clear,” the king answers the duke A lesson take by me to all that I had learnt; But urgently you must attend “And fairly your words do implore Let judgment come from God alone And as I lay near slumber’s door For I come from the kingdom that lies to your North But why should my countrymen suffer your fate And Heaven’s charity beneath the candle’s gleam, And our land is besieged by foul men And ride off to die in your war?” For if you speak in words your will An eerie vision came to me, appearing in a dream... Oh, lend us your swords, your shields, and your strength And curse the ones you hate To stave off the breach of our walls The king sits upon his fair throne once again Know that those you mean no ill It was a dove displayed upon a billet This foe is too great, we cannot hold long Under siege is his castle so grand May also share their fate. Chequy Or and gules Make haste before our kingdom falls!” His crops feed his foe while his own people starve Between a pair of cockatrices And his enemies ravage his land. My mother was a maiden fair Clad in motley like a fool’s “Your peril is clear,” the king answers the page As eyes had ever seen Their feathers were dimidiated “And fairly your words do implore “Oh king, if you’d joined with your kinsmen but once And all for love her fortune rare With a tree eradicated But why should my countrymen suffer your fate This day might have not come to be A thousand days a queen Limbed and fructed counter-compony. And ride off to die in your war?” But your indifferent heart finds you now without friends But love was lost and dignity And leaves your realm naked to me.” In prison walls interred Beside the field of honor at a tournament, The king sips his wine with his steward close by When father came to hear her plea I was resting from my labors at the Heralds’ tent Giving word of fine weather to be Take warning all ye who like islands would stand This curse is what he heard: When my reverie was broken by a newly-belted knight When into his hall runs a squire from the East For when evil is laid at your doors Who had come for some assurance Who before the king falls to one knee. A land without allies becomes a land lost chorus: that his coat-of-arms was right And another man’s war becomes yours. A plague on thee, Oh Majesty I sat him down and lectured him about simplicity “Forgive me, Oh King, for my road-weary state If you would take my head And shared with him the good advice But urgently you must attend Words and music by Samantha Moore and Lisa Theriot For I shall see revenge on thee that had been taught to me For I come from the kingdom that lies to your East © 2004 Raven Boy Music, ASCAP Long after I am dead “My lord,” he said, “My thanks to thee And our land is besieged by foul men The womb that bears shall overthrow you really have been kind Oh, lend us your swords, your shields, and your strength The hand that strikes it down Now let me tell you of the coat-of-arms To stave off the breach of our walls For when you lie the earth below I have in mind... This foe is too great, we cannot hold long The Coming of Spring My child will have your crown. Make haste before our kingdom falls!” I want a dove displayed upon a billet Give me a song, give me rhythm and rhyme Oh mother, did you not believe Chequy Or and gules “Your peril is clear,” the king answers the squire Find the warmth of the sun in the circle of time Your words would carry true, Between a pair of cockatrices “And fairly your words do implore Breath new life to the trees from the heavens above That they would give me cause to grieve Clad in motley like a fool’s But why should my countrymen suffer your fate On the cries of an infant, on the wings of a dove As grievously as you? Their feathers are dimidiated And ride off to die in your war?” chorus: For though I sit my father’s throne With a tree eradicated And we'll sing Hallelujah, Hallelujah A barren womb is mine Limbed and fructed counter-compony.” The harvest is in and the king is at court Oh for the coming of spring And out from dungeons of my own With his queen he begins a pavane And we'll sing Hallelujah, Hallelujah I hear a voice like thine… “Your blazon is impossible,” was my response; When into his hall limps a knight from the West Oh for the coming of spring “It’s so complex the College would With a helmet and coat of plates on. chorus reject it at the nonce. Fill the forest with laughter, the heavens with light It breaks the rules of heraldry: “Forgive me, Oh King, for my road-weary state For a warm moonlit evening filled with lover's delight words and music by Lisa Theriot it can’t be done, you see; But urgently you must attend Fill the fields with flowers in colors that please © Raven Boy Music, ASCAP Besides, the arms you’ve blazoned For I come from the kingdom that lies to your West For all of God’s children take comfort in these have been registered to me...” And our land is besieged by foul men Oh, lend us your swords, your shields, and your strength chorus I have a dove displayed upon a billet To stave off the breach of our walls The Wilted Rose, or the Chequy Or and gules This foe is too great, we cannot hold long Let the farmers prepare all their fields to sow Song of the Old Used Queen Between a pair of cockatrices Make haste before our kingdom falls!” Set the flocks out to pasture Clad in motley like a fool’s where the sweet clover grows Once I was a lady of the blood royale “ Their feathers are dimidiated Your peril is clear,” the king answers the knight As the world makes its turning in darkness and light A ruler of this land “ With a tree eradicated And fairly your words do implore A new day waits beginning on the edge of the night But now I spend my days as an Old Used Queen Limbed and fructed counter-compony. But why should my countrymen suffer your fate And I find it’s not so grand. And those are the arms that belong to me!” And ride off to die in your war?” chorus With a hey-ho, derry derry down I sing Never any fun for an Old Used Queen. words and music by Derek Foster The fire burns bright, and the king bids his bard Take heart you good gentles and warriors so bold © 1978, all rights reserved Tell of tales of the heroes of old Know that winter will end as is always foretold My lord spends his time out on the field Raven Boy Music, ASCAP But the light is soon dimmed as the doors open wide Don't despair for the Spring And dreams of strawberry leaves And a duke staggers in from the cold. I spend my days in a castle room Embroidering on his sleeves. So here’s your gold, love He's harped the bird down from the sky The Burden of the Crown With a hey-ho, derry derry down I sing Here’s your gold and your silver chain. He's harped a tear from every eye Knit one, purl two, Old Used Queen. I only did it for to know The fairy King said, "Name thy fee, The battlefield is silent, the shadows growing long The other ladies sit and talk If you would be a true lover or no. "Ask anything, I'll give it thee!" Though I may view the sunset Of baron, duke and king If you’d given me that ring,” she said, I’ll not live to see the dawn But when I draw near they rise and bow “I’d have pulled the trigger "Sir, grant me only that lady The trees have ceased to rustle And don’t tell me a thing. I’d have pulled the trigger and shot you dead!” That sleeps beneath the hawthorn tree." the birds no longer sing With a hey-ho, derry derry down I sing All nature seems to wonder at the passing of a King. Never any news for an Old Used Queen. The King said, "You are rough and mean words and music traditional/arranged by Lisa Theriot And she is fair as any Queen And now you stand before me, The common folk can flounce and flirt © Raven Boy Music, ASCAP your father’s flesh and blood And frolic in the grass And what a foul thing it would be Begotten of my sinews on the woman that I loved I’m the model of decorum (it’s dull as hell!) To see her in thy company." So difficult the birthing No one will make a pass. King Orfeo the mother died that day With a hey-ho, derry derry down I sing "A fouler thing, so I have heard And now you stand before me Never any love for an Old Used Queen. Is a King who breaks his given word." to bear my crown away. It fell about a May morning Early greens the grove But one day soon there’ll be a change When gone a-hunting was the King The King, who knew the words were true, The hour is fast approaching I’m learning how to fight The hart he goes there yearly Said, "Take her then away with you." when you come into your own And my lord will learn when I become When you take the ring and sceptre, A duchess in my own damned right! Out a-maying went the Queen Then Orfeo he glad arose and sit upon the throne With a hey-ho, derry derry down he’ll sing She's lain beneath the hawthorn green And he's cast off his beggar's clothes Before that final hour when we each Never any fun for an Old Used King! must meet our fate She woke and screamed and tore her gown He's brought his Queen back to the town Pray gaze upon the royal crown words and music by Derek Foster And in her bower they've laid her down And taken up again his crown and marvel at its weight. © 1980, all rights reserved Raven Boy Music, ASCAP The King said, "Tell me what you've seen He ruled in faith his fellow men This cap of burnished metal is the symbol of a land Out beneath the hawthorn green." And ne'er saw fairy folk again. Supporting all we cherish, the dreams for which we stand Solvay, or the Female Highwayman "A strange voice calling in my sleep words by Ken and Lisa Theriot The weight, you’ll find, is nothing Said, 'You'll soon be mine to keep' music traditional if you hold it in your palm © Raven Boy Music, ASCAP The burden of the crown begins Solvay, Solvay, all on a day the day you put it on. She dressed herself in man’s array The King of Faerie comes for me With a sword and pistol down by her side Tomorrow noon by that same tree." See how the jewels sparkle as you gaze at it again To meet her true love, The Rolling Hills of the Borders Each facet is a subject whose rights you must defend To meet her true love away she’d ride. King Orfeo said, "This I'll do One hundred knights will ride with you chorus: Every point of light a burden you must shoulder with your own She met her true love all on the plain When I die, bury me low And mighty is the burden of the man upon the throne. She stepped up to him and bid him stand And if your fears are proven real Where I can hear the bonny Tweed flow “Stand and deliver unto me,” she said, The fairy King shall meet our steel." A sweeter place I never did know The day is nearly ended, my limbs are growing cold “And if you do not Than the Rolling Hills of the Borders. I can feel the angels waiting And if you do not, I’ll shoot you dead!” But it was as the lady feared

Despite her guard, she disappeared I have traveled far and wide to receive my passing soul Keep well for me my kingdom He gave her all his golden store Seen the Hudson and the Clyde when my memory is dead But still she craved for one thing more In grief, the King took off his crown I've courted by Loch Lomondside And forgive me for the burden “A diamond ring, sir, I see you wear In beggar's clothes he left the town But I dearly love the Borders. I place upon your head. Make haste and give it Make haste and give it and your life I’ll spare.” He played his harp to ease his pain chorus And ten years thus he did remain words and music by Derek Foster “From my diamond ring I shall not part It's well that I can mind the day © 1979, all rights reserved For it’s a token of my sweetheart Some ladies came a-hunting by With my laddie I stole by the Tay Raven Boy Music, ASCAP Shoot and be damned, you rogue,” said he, His Queen among them caught his eye But oh, its beauty fades away “And you’ll be hanged Among the hills of the Borders. You’ll be hanged for murdering me.” He chased and spared not stub nor stem To castle's gate he followed them chorus The White Hart’s Prey Next morning in her garden green There's a certain peace of mind My hunting hound runs quickly Young Solvay and her true love were seen He played his harp for castle's guard Bonny lasses there you'll find Through the mountain’s forest side He spied his chain hanging from her clothes And so gained entry as a bard The men are hard but yet so kind And so my steed runs swiftly in pursuit as on we ride Which made him blush then, Among the hills of the Borders. My gray hawk flies above Which made him blush then like any rose. And passing he did see his Queen Asleep beneath a hawthorn green With wings spanned wide and strong words and music by Matt McGinn The prey we spy will come to die “Why do you blush, you silly young thing? © Hearthside Music, MCPS Before the day grows long I thought to have that diamond ring. Now he's gone on into the hall And played his harp among them all ‘Twas I who robbed you all on that plain! chorus: For the white hart fast and fleet doth flee words by Smantha Moore and Lisa Theriot While the wolves of the winter come knock at our doors Ye canna catch him wi' yer feet And I give chase with glee music by Samantha Moore So we've taken our weapons, our pikes and our bows Ye maun gang use yer heed! And ever on I’ll ride upon © Raven Boy Music, ASCAP To meet the last of the mighty, the Dragon chorus The scent of my quarry For my hunting hound runs swiftly Follow Me Up to Carlow In what's left of our township we hold our pikes low The haggis, see, he does nae turn As the beast streaks towards us He runs the lee-long day The flash of white within Through the light falling snow Around and round the hill he gaes Lift MacCahir Og your face The thickened wood catches my eye We've all sworn an oath for the blood of our foe But always the same way Brooding o'er the old disgrace Upon the wind I sound my horn To bring death to the mighty, the Dragon That Black FitzWilliam stormed your place As through the woods we fly And we'll never give up, no we won't run and hide Sae frae the hour he leaves his dam And drove you to the fern. The trees seem near alive For too many have suffered, too many have died On rocky slope tae bide Grey said victory was sure As if they’d bar my way For each man we have lost, and each child that cries His legs grow short anear the scree Soon the firebrand he'd secure No branch nor weed would I pay heed Dies the last of the mighty, the Dragon And lang the doonhill side! Until he met at Glenmalure But followed fast my prey chorus With Feach MacHugh O' Byrne. chorus The battle is joined as our archers let fly Sae once ye spy the tasty beast chorus: And fire falls around us from a clouded night sky The chase has led me and my prey As shy as any doe Curse and swear Lord Kildare And five men lay dead in one blink of an eye Unto the mountainside Just set yer dogs untae his heed Feach will do what Feach will dare Of the last of the mighty, the Dragon The hart is trapped, he stands at bay And wait yersel' below Now FitzWilliam, have a care But the pikes take their toll on the Dragon's next pass With nowhere left to hide Fallen is your star low And her blood smokes and burns His coat is flecked with foam For when he turns yer hounds tae flee Up with halberd, out with sword On the sparse winter grass His eyes are filled with fear His legs won't reach the ground On we'll go, for by the Lord As the ice on the lake strains and shatters like glass With bow-arm strong me arrow’s song He'll tumble doon untae yer arms Feach MacHugh has given the word Beneath the last of the mighty, the Dragon Rings jubilant and clear And tae yer pot he's bound! Follow me up to Carlow!" chorus chorus Her last cries of anguish drowned in her wake And those who've survived her find comfort to take See the swords of Glen Imayle words by Lisa Theriot But lo, when I set down my bow For deep on the bottom of a cold mountain lake Flashing o'er the English pale music by Ken Theriot My heart within me sank Lay the last of the mighty, the Dragon Though true my aim, no wound I saw See all the children of the Gael ©2001 Raven Boy Music Beneath O'Byrne's banners But who here can say as we hear the wind howl On neither neck nor flank Yet another one like her Rooster of a fighting stock (Editor’s note: “neeps” are parsnips, “swedes” are rutabagas, I bent my bow again Through the dark night may prowl Would you let a Saxon cock and “winkles” are periwinkles, a type of shellfish; “athol brose” But as I loosed my dart And fly down with the winter to kill and devour Crow out upon an Irish rock? is a drink made with whisky and oats. And no, this isn’t really Before my eyes the promised prize And be the last of the mighty Fly up and teach him manners! what haggis is; someone once described haggis to me as, Was nevermore a hart. The last of the mighty chorus chorus “Basically, you take a sheep and feed it nose-first into a The last of the mighty, the Dragon Cuisinart…” You know the saying, “You are what you eat”? A beast no longer, now a man From Tassagart to Clonmore Perhaps this explains a lot about Scotsmen.) words and music by JP Andrews With beard full to the ground Flows a stream of Saxon gore © Raven Boy Music, ASCAP In robes of ivory-white he stands Och, great is Rory Og O' More Stock-still without a sound At sending the loons to Hades A staff coal-black and branched White is sick and Lane is fled Like the antlers of a deer Now for Black FitzWilliam's head The Haggis Rises from the sage’s hand We'll send it over, dripping red And spellbound, I draw near. To Queen Liza and her ladies! chorus chorus The haggis is as fair a beast As e'er was served to diner Oh, you who seek to earn a name words and music traditional/arranged by Lisa Theriot And if you're minded for a feast By stealing from the wood © Raven Boy Music, ASCAP Ye canna ask for finer A harmless beast of beauty That you’d slay if e’er you could But if ye would on haggis dine No mercy do you bear The Last of the Mighty And vegetables to match him And kindness have you not Tis best ye hearken untae me And learn the way to catch him So you shall flee the bloodthirsty She flies through the night on her dark wings And share your victims’ lot. As the wind rushes by her a war cry she sings chorus: A creature of legend, nightmare and dreams Oh! the neeps, and oh! the swedes For the white hart fast and fleet did flee She's the last of the mighty, the Dragon And oh! the winkles fine And you gave chase with glee Down from the North she has come seeking gold Come raise yer horn of athol brose Now evermore you’ll fly before She's taken the lives of the young and the old On haggis let us dine! The bows of men like thee She's flame and she's fire on a wind bitter cold For their hunting hounds run swiftly She's the last of the mighty, the Dragon The haggis roams the highland hills That stretch from loch to loch Now I, the white hart, fast I flee Like a falling star suddenly thrown to the ground And he's as fast a quarry then And you give chase with glee She trampled our fields burned out the town As hunter ever socht But ware you all of my downfall The land shakes below her for miles around Lest you become like me She's the last of the mighty, the Dragon He'll run the day and all the nicht For your hunting hounds run swiftly… In a blizzard of fire she's burned down our stores He'll match yer hounds for speed