Keltic Lament

Image credit Dougy.

I wrote this song for my friend that lives on Orkney. He and his wife have had a rough year.
It was inspired by ‘Keltic Lament’ by John Foulds and can be sung to that melody although I do not for one moment claim it improves the moving music.

There’s a land surrounded with water that touches the sky,
Where the stars seem to shine more brightly as they wheel by,
There’s a land where the music will sound across the sea,
And there is where I’ll seek a home and peaceful harmony,
This land ever waits with a melody that’s old,
No voice ever sung such a symphony so bold,
Listen well it will call through the ages down to you,
It will tell tales of courage and hearts remaining true.

Where the cold winter days are short and nights are long,
And around a warming fireside there’s many sing a song,
Where a midsummer sun does not leave the sky at night,
And the moon is overwhelmed by the strength of his light,
Winds blow from the west across an ocean deep,
Giants from the depths rise and from the waters leap,
With a cry a white bird soars against a pale blue sky,
This is the land where I would rest and stay until I die.

This land ever waits with a melody that’s old,
No voice ever sung such a symphony so bold,
Listen well it will call through the ages down to you,
It will tell tales of courage and hearts remaining true.

For more pictures taken by Dougy see his website Snorri's Place.