FABLES
AND FANTASIES
versioni inglesi di Peter Sinfield
DUST
AND ASHES
I
am dust and ashes
my
crown is worm and white bone
there's
no man suckled milk
though
he run I will not call him
his
chains will seem as feathers
when
I silently lock mine
his
iron gate like cobweb come his moment.
I
am dust and ashes
my
jewels maggots crawling
there's
no man woman loved
will
not surrender when I beckon
sand
is running my blade shining
bend
your heads why stand your welcome
the
steps are worn my ferryman awaits you.
Oh
sir you do us honour
attending
on our humble dwelling
lay
down your glass and blade
and
take a few turns with us
we
beg you dance a few steps
a
rondeau of remembrance
forget
a while the flesh you should have taken...
I
am dust and ashes
my
jewels maggots crawling
there's
no man woman loved
will
not surrender when I beckon
sand
is running my blade shining
bend
your heads why stand welcome
the
steps are worn my ferryman is still waiting.
LADY
Lady
I love thee
once
sang the minstrels
on
the greenbanks and meadows
in
high-windowed halls
nowadays
the styles changed
it's
not the done thing
call
me old-fashioned
but
I'll still sing...
Lady
I love thee
and
fill your heart gladly
with
sweet music and laughter
blue
skies and gold rings
moon
on the river strange sails in the bay
Lady
I'll love thee forever my way.
Lady
I love thee
your
white knight I would be
who
saves you from dragons
who
wakes you from spells
long
may the world stand
on
my welcome mat
its
baggage unopened
while
I'm sure that
Lady
together
from
sunrise to sunset
your
star's bright in my night
your
heart's close to mine
moon
on the river strange sails in the bay
Lady
I'll love thee no more can I say...
MERRY
WE WILL BE
Go
light the lantern and hang it on the gate
As
a sign that all men are welcome
In
this house tonight to spend Christmastide
Among
friendly company
Then
build the fire to a yuletide blaze
And
keep the great spit turning
Send
the fiddlers in give us fair young maids
And
merry we will be.
We've
garlands red and garlands green
And
a tree with stars and tinsel
Where
an angel blest by Father James
Looks
down upon our feast
Here
comes the man of God himself
Give
him wine and bid him welcome
When
his cheeks are red he'll forget his bed
And
meny we will be.
There's
holly hung from every beam
There's
mistletoe and ivy
If
I catch you there I will take my share
Of
kisses given free
There's
gifts for all both tall and small
There's
trinkets toys and baubles
So
fill your dish with all you wish
And
meny we will be.
We've
garlands red and garlands green
And
a tree with stars and tinsel
For
its open house and open hearts
This
time of year to all
So
if you're passing by and hear
The
sounds of joy and laughter
Won't
you step inside this Christmastide
And
meny we will be.
Go
light the lantern and hang it on the gate
As
a sign all men are welcome
In
this house tonight that is shining bright
With
fire light and love
We've
garlands red and garlands green
And
a tree with stars and tinsel
Good
friends come one come all this night
And
merry we will be.
BY
APPOINTMENT
Through
the misty realm of morning
came
the cry of the raven's warning
come
away there is evil around you
there
is canker curse and fire
it
will take out your eyes for its master
it
will cut you and give him your heart sir
now
too late it is close it has found you
beware
the venomous iron.
Be
still I do not fear death
I
now welcome the journey
but
friend fly to my patron
and
pluck his eyes in revenge
go
tell him that my last breath
I
spent singing an old song
his
heart will burn with my heart
in
the fires of hell before long.
For
the crab will come out of the ocean
to
be near to his mouth for the time
he
can steal his soul on his dying breath
and
hide it away for eternity.
Oh
greater the lord more the fool
always
the same essential flaw
while
his lackeys are picking my bones clean
people
dance on to my songs at his back door.
THE
STOLEN BRIDE
Three
long nights and sleep eludes me
wait
and watch and listen
but
all I hear is the viper sliding
and
hissing along the river.
There
I wrote this song I sing now
darkly
dressed with sorrow
about
the bride who left her wedding
slipped
out... none saw none followed.
No
one saw the extra guest
beguile
her to the threshold
with
smiles and pretty words
about
the beauty of her dress
and
persuade her from the Feasting.
So
naive she followed him
she
thought but for a moment
we
waited her return till the candles burnt away
we
searched... but none could find her.
A
fiddler present at the wedding
was
walking out next morning
when
the strange guest appeared before him
good
day musician said he.
I
know you search for one who's missing
vanished
from her wedding
if
you have a brave heart walk behind me
and
I will lead you to her.
A
boat as black as fishes bowels
he
rode 'cross shrowded waters
until
theycame upon the waxen bride
in
a dress of gold and silver.
She
bade the fiddler take her ring
back
safe to her beloved
and
said here I remain and suffer not the world
no
pain desire or hatred.
The
fiddler took the ring and turning
had
hardly walked but one step
when
he heard her stifled cry "Forgive me"
as
the misty waters took her.
Shining
bright as summer light
the
morning that she married
what
unholy place was she taken to that day
and
by what cold Lord of darkness.
DUST
AND ASHES
IL
CILIEGIO
THE
ENCHANTED LAKE
BY
APPOINTMENT
LADY
MERRY
WE WILL BE
THE
STOLEN BRIDE
THE
HARE IN THE MOON
MUSTAPHA'S
TALE