Song for Arthur

Martin — Mon, 16 Jul 2018 06:48:11 +0000

Mon, 07/16/2018

Song for Arthur is set to music by Joe Cutler for the Counter Tenor Songbook. Click on the title to read.

Song for Arthur

For Rose

Joe Cutler, July 2016

Words by Martin Riley

Amongst the dead they strut, dark birds of prey.
Three hooded queens, a body bear away.
A naked arm arises from a lake.
Two knights, upon their knees, repentance make.
A crystal cave: a sorcerer within
Looks back in time and cries “Begin! Begin!”

He awakes with a shriek,
All alone, all alone,
Like the ring of a sword
That is pulled from a stone
But I whisper soft words
And I hold him close tight,
And I wrap him up warm
And walk into the night.

Lu, lu-la-la - lu, la-la-lu.
May we share this dance with you,
Under the moon, beside the sea,
Our little tiny child and me?

By the seashore we sway,
Rock a-bye, rock a-bye,
While the waves and the wind
Sing a sweet lullaby
And I feel our two hearts
Make a double drumbeat
As the weight of the world
Rolls back under our feet.

Lu, lu-la-la - lu, la-la-lu.
May we share this dance with you
Under the moon, beside the sea,
Our little tiny child and me?

Both by breath and by blood,
Way-ya hey, way hey-yah,
We are fuelled by the fire
Of each bright shining star
But, just as the moon
In the heavens above
Takes its light from the sun,
We are warmed by your love.

May this our child be witch and warlock free,
No wyrd, no once and future king, no destiny.
The stone-cut runes: let them remain unread,
No wizard staff to point the path ahead.
Forsaking golden crown and mighty throne,
May this young Arthur make his life his own.

Martin Riley - Lyrics

Song for Arthur