We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Death and the Woman

by Sarah DeShields

supported by
Wino Mercantilism
Wino Mercantilism thumbnail
Wino Mercantilism An original and beautiful record. Favorite track: Ca' The Yowes.
/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $7 USD  or more

     

1.
Far over the Forth I look to the North But what is the North Wi' it's heighlands tae me? The South, nor the East gie ease tae ma breast It's a far foreign land o'er the wild rollin sea Ah the lang summer days Among the heather and the bracken And oh for the look O' his bonny blue ee! But wee did ah ken That the wild western ocean Would be rollin this day Between ma laddie an me We trysted our love On the cairn on the mountain The deer and the roe Stood bridesmaidens tae me And my love's trysting glass Was the clear crystal fountain What then was the world Tae ma laddie an me? So I'll look to the North as I look o'er the Forth But what is the North Wi' it's heighlans tae me? For the lad I loo best Is far in the West And he's seekin a hame For ma bairnie an me
2.
Will ye gang love, and leave me noo? Will ye gang love, and leave me noo? Would ye forsake yer ain love true and gang wi' a lass that ye never knew? My love, he stands at yon chaumer door Coomin doon his yellae hair His curly locks I like tae see I wonder if my love minds on me I wish, I wish I wish in vain I wish I were a maid again But a maid again I'll never be Till an apple grows on an orange tree I wish, I wish my bairn was born I wish it lay in daddy's arms and I mysel were dead and gone and the wavy grass all around my growin As lang's my apron did bide doon He followed me frae toon tae toon But noo it's up aboun my knee My love gaes by but he kens nae me Mak my grave baith lang and deep And put a rose at my hied an feet And in the middle a turtledove Let the people know that I died fer love.
3.
Death I am from the old north sea raging with the life of thee Fury sings on wind you see Ever calls the woman’s grief Your throat becomes a river reed Your flesh shall form an autumn seed Your Bones become the golden leaf Your ribs harbor new life to breed Woman Are you Jacob’s angel? Must we wrestle? I am too old in my bones for a miracle Death I am no angel, but I ain't the devil I am the turning of the season and you know me well woman Woman Was that you in my summer hall? shimmering like a pagan god? all my bairns born for breath and breast They sleep now in the earth instead Death: I am what I am Shadow companion Nothing more, nothing less, though in my breast what could I hope for? Woman Let me come near you then Let me comfort you then For I have lived an age and it is hope that we all crave O Death
4.
5.
Brontide 04:07
You roll over me like a Brontide in summer You beckon me true like a lad calls his lover I am seas away, Oh the miles I would cover! To lay in your fields again My clarion call is the raven in winter She sings to me "Oh dear Sister! Don't linger!" I hear your old bell, and your salty wind whisper "Come lay in my fields again!" Come Lay Come Lay Come Lay you down I've built a good hearth here in North Carolina Whelving down roots in a soil that is kinder Healed in the shadow of Mountain Grandmother I have found new fields, my friend I'll lay I'll lay I'll lay me down When I am old And my bairns are all grown I'll lay in your fields again I will be your young lass again
6.
Who Killed Cock Robin? Who Killed Cock Robin? I said the Sparrow with my little bow and arrow It was I, oh it was I Who saw him die? Who saw him die? I said the fly, with my little beady eye it was I oh I saw him die Who'll dig his grave? Who'll dig his grave? I said the Owl, with my little trowel I'll dig his grave Who'll sing a psalm? Who'll sing a psalm? I said the thrush as she sat on a bush I'll sing a psalm Who'll toll the bell? Who'll toll the bell? I said the bull, I know that I can pull I'll toll the bell All the birds of the air fell a sighing and a sobbing When they heard the bell toll for Old Poor Cock Robin credits
7.
When the wind breathes down the slope It soothes the weary bone Our mother’s mothers sew their hope In tapestries of stone Our father’s fathers beaten brow Lashed by thistle and thorn Till more sow more break new ground Know labors' cursed scorn The midwife moon like a mother tending I know the mountain brought us forth From root to rising in our ending For when they lay your bones down There we will be homebound Sons and daughters listen hard While your youth is fleeting Mind the men who make their mark Watch the women weaving Briar Borders can be found In the summer’s setting Boundary is a hand-me-down The rocky cleft for cleaving
8.
Ca' the yowes to the knowes, Ca' them where the heather grows, Ca' them where the burnie rows, My bonnie dearie. As I gaed down the water side, There I met my shepherd lad; He row'd me sweetly in his plaid, And he ca'd me his dearie. Will ye gang down the water side, And see the waves sae sweetly glide Beneath the hazels spreading wide? The moon it shines fu' clearly. If ye'll but stand to what ye've said, I'se gang wi' you, my shepherd lad, And ye may row me in your plaid, And I shall be your dearie. While waters wimple to the sea, While day blinks in the lift sae hie, Till clay-cauld death shall blin' my e'e, Ye shall be my dearie!

about

Death and the Woman is an exploration of Sarah's Scottish heritage and home in North Carolina, finding fresh expression for ancient traditionals and lush originals that will break your heart and make it again.

credits

released September 25, 2020

Recorded, Produced and Engineered by Everett Hardin of Red Yeti Audio
Mastering by Carl Saff
With thanks to the following musicians for contributing lovingly to the record:

Everett and Caroline Hardin, Melissa Harper, Ben Loughran, Chad Lawson, Luke Skaggs, Graeme Welch, Stephen Williams, Amanda Opelt

Thank you to my songwriters group here in Boone who have helped me mother these songs well

Thank you to my family near and far, especially Kevin DeShields for crying at every song (you see me, you love me!)

And thank you to all for listening. May these songs heal and love you well.

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Sarah DeShields Boone, North Carolina

From the green rugged lands of Scotland, Sarah DeShields is a seasoned singer songwriter now living in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina

contact / help

Contact Sarah DeShields

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Redeem code

Report this album or account

Sarah DeShields recommends:

If you like Sarah DeShields, you may also like: