The Storm Witch

[Alan Day]

Whilst poking about in my loft I came across a poem that I never got around to writing a tune for.

It is a true story that moved me to write this poem or possibly a song

 

Through Summer months and Winter Storm

A young girl weeps with love forlorn

for her love shanghide one misty night

She waits through days of dark and light

She hears the barking of the caves

and the changing beating of the waves

Remembering walks on Orkney sand

Walking lovingly hand in hand

 

Through the seas whipped up by an autumn gale

a ship is seen with broken sail

The villagers leap and dance about

"With salvage we'll be rich", they shout

The ship begins to search in vain

for safety through this rocky main

"I see a mermaid "someone cries

as a girl is seen through tear stained eyes

 

The sailors all cringe back in fear

as the lovely girl draws near

In vain she searches that dreadfull place

A looking for her lovers face

Through the storm that savage day

She guides the ship to Odins bay

and men with faces wracked with pain

now begin to laugh again

 

The villagers seeing the safe return

Cry out "This Storm Witch she must burn"

"Only a Witch in a Magic Boat

In this Tempest could stay afloat."

In Strongsay Prison behind locked door

with mice and rats upon the floor

The poor young girl lies full awake

to wait her fate upon the stake

 

Now as she stares through prison bars

A face is seen among the stars

Her lovers face she sees again

and shuts her eyes to ease the pain

A wall falls down,she hears a shout

A mans hand helps to pull her out

Those men she saved from the sea

And her lover,back to set her free.

 

Al

Edited August 6, 2006 by Alan Day

[bellowbelle]

So sad, but so beautiful!

 

I'd love to hear this one sung and played -- maybe you'll get around to doing that, that'd be wonderful.

[Animaterra]

Oh, Alan, that is stunning. A true story, you say? I'd love to hear more.

 

Would you mind if I try my hand at putting a tune? I could hear my women's chorus trying something with this. (No promises, mind, but I need something creative at the moment, as I'm nursing my daughter from her surgery).

[Alan Day]

I would love you to have a go at putting it to music Allison.

The poem was written years ago and even the paper it was written on has turned brown.I remember a painting of the girl rowing out to sea with the ship in the distance and I can only assume that I saw this story narrated in a Scotland.It is definitely a true story and I was so moved by it I thought it would make a good song.It may be difficult to put a tune to it owing to the length of each paragraph ,but I wish you every success Allison and your Daughter a speedy recovery.

I am really pleased you and Wendy enjoyed it.

Al

[Anglogeezer]

Grand poem Alan.

The first tune I thought of was Carolan's "Planxty Irwin" and the second was "Westlin' Winds" the tune associated with Robbie Burns poem.

I'm out at a session tonight (1 st Aug) if I feel confident I might try Westlin' Winds!

regards

Jake

[Alan Day]

Very clever Jake, "Planxty Irwin" 2 A and 2 Bs fit it exactly.I do not know the other tune but it does look as though you have found a way around the length of poem.

If you do sing it tonight you will be of course the first ever to perform it.Many thanks

Have a great session.

Please let me know if you get any response.

Al

[Anglogeezer]

Very clever Jake, "Planxty Irwin" 2 A and 2 Bs fit it exactly.I do not know the other tune but it does look as though you have found a way around the length of poem.

If you do sing it tonight you will be of course the first ever to perform it.Many thanks

Have a great session.

Please let me know if you get any response.

Al

 

The poem by Burns starts:

"Now westlin winds and slaughtering guns

Bring autumn's pleasant weather

The moorcock springs on whirring wings

Among the blooming heather"

 

I believe I have heard it sung by Dick Gaughan, amongst others

 

regards

Jake

[Anglogeezer]

I've sent a private message to Alan on this but to others of you interested in this song I did sing it last night at our weekly session and it went down very well.

I explained how I came by the song and used the tune "Westlin Winds", everyone (12) said what a good song they thought it was. I then sang one verse using "Planxty Irwin" and the general view was that "WW" was the better choice with only 2 prefering "PI".

There may well of course be other better tunes so I shan't stop looking.

 

For those intereste in the truth of the song I have so far discovered the following:-

 

"Odin Bay

A wide bay on the east coast of the island of Stronsay in the Orkney Islands, Odin Bay extends from Burgh Head at its southern extreme to the headland of Odness. Within the bay lies the Vat of Kirbuster, a dramatic opening or gloup spanned by the finest natural arch in Orkney."

 

A wild and raggedly rugged part of the world especially in the depths of a stormy winter.

 

regards

Jake

[Alan Day]

I've sent a private message to Alan on this but to others of you interested in this song I did sing it last night at our weekly session and it went down very well.

I explained how I came by the song and used the tune "Westlin Winds", everyone (12) said what a good song they thought it was. I then sang one verse using "Planxty Irwin" and the general view was that "WW" was the better choice with only 2 prefering "PI".

There may well of course be other better tunes so I shan't stop looking.

regards

Jake

 

Many thanks Jake for singing it ,I admire you for putting it together so quickly it would have taken me Months.

Did you accompany it by Concertina or Guitar or sing unaccompanied ?

Jake has made some slight modifications to the text to lend itself more for singing and I can amend the poem to include these modifications if you wish.

I will have to see what else is up in my loft.

Al

[PeterT]

I will have to see what else is up in my loft.

Let's hope you don't find any of those bullocks hiding up there!

Regards,

Peter.

[Alan Day]

Now Peter ,funny you should say that

Just the other day, oops someone at the door.

Al

[PeterT]

Now Peter ,funny you should say that

Just the other day, oops someone at the door.

Al

To be continued next week....................

[Alan Day]

I did actually find a live sheep at the back of my garage.How it got there I do not know.I had been working in the house and left the garage door open all day,at some point it must have crept in.

Al

[PeterT]

I did actually find a live sheep at the back of my garage.

Roast lamb, lamb cutlets, lamb chops, curried lamb..........

 

Seriously, Alan, what did you do with it?

 

I'd be very concerned if I found one in my back garden, since animals have not grazed here for almost 200 years.

 

Regards,

Peter.

 

PS - see you on Monday. Any chance of a lift home?

[Alan Day]

Peter, I rang the Farmer and he came and took it away.

It had actually walked quite a long way to live with me but with six dogs it chose the wrong home.I was tempted to keep it.(not for use with the mint sauce).

No problem for Monday

Al

[Anglogeezer]

Alan,

Two more tunes come to mind, the Irish song "The Parting Glass" and the carol "See, Amid the Winter's Snow".

Regarding my previous suggestions, you are obviously familiar with "Planxty Irwin".

The dots to "Now Westlin' Winds" (which is trad' Irish) can be found here :- Matt Seattle and the song can be heard here :- "Tradition Bearers"

 

I think your poem makes a grand song and for the moment my favoured tune is Westlin Winds, belonging as it does to a Burns love song which reflects somewhat the theme of your poem and is familiar to audiences. Planxty Irwin runs a close second this being used for another song I sing, "The Wild Geese" by Mal Waite.

 

Alan wrote :- Did you accompany it by Concertina or Guitar or sing unaccompanied ?

 

I sang it unaccompanied, I'm a singer first, musician second. There's enough to do remembering tune and words without worrying about fingers as well!!

Keep writing.

regards

Jake

[Alan Day]

Alan,

Two more tunes come to mind, the Irish song "The Parting Glass" and the carol "See, Amid the Winter's Snow".

Regarding my previous suggestions, you are obviously familiar with "Planxty Irwin".

The dots to "Now Westlin' Winds" (which is trad' Irish) can be found here :- Matt Seattle and the song can be heard here :- "Tradition Bearers"

 

I think your poem makes a grand song and for the moment my favoured tune is Westlin Winds, belonging as it does to a Burns love song which reflects somewhat the theme of your poem and is familiar to audiences. Planxty Irwin runs a close second this being used for another song I sing, "The Wild Geese" by Mal Waite.

 

Alan wrote :- Did you accompany it by Concertina or Guitar or sing unaccompanied ?

 

I sang it unaccompanied, I'm a singer first, musician second. There's enough to do remembering tune and words without worrying about fingers as well!!

Keep writing.

regards

Jake

 

That tune is absolutely lovely and so is the singing that accompanies it.I must admit the song would be slower than I was thinking for it, but it expresses so much feeling I could not even come near to writing a tune like that. Very emotional . I hope that I will hear it sung one day with my words.

Many thanks Jake

Al

PS You asked me about the barking of the caves and it was what you thought the waves rushing into the cave and the sound that it creates, or by poetic licence that is what I meant.

Edited August 6, 2006 by Alan Day

[Anglogeezer]

Still keeping my ears open for suitable tunes, how about "Boulavogue"

regards

Jake