The Highwayman - Loreena McKennitt

Alas he was the highwayman The one that comes and goes And only the highwaywoman Keeps up with the likes of those And she in all her magic With hands as quick as light Took him to be a challange And went into the night And he in all his glory Was far ahead of her But she was never sorry For wishes that would burn Enter compitition She chases beneath the moon Her horse is like a dragonfly She is just a fool And she wonders is this real Or does she just want to be queen And he fights the way he feels Is this the end of a dream? And then he sees her coming Heartbeats on the wind Considers slowing down But then he could never win And she, out in the distance Sees him against the sky A pale and violent rider A dream begun in wine And she wonders is this real Or does she just want to be queen And he fights the way he feels Is this the end of a dream A dream as the thunder wakes her And her highwayman disappears Or a life already lived before In eyes welled with tears Today and still today they ride Will they ever win He the glory, she the love And still they try again He the glory, she the love And still they try again He the glory, she the love And still they try again

I was a highwayman along the coach roads I did ride with sword and pistol by my side Many a young maid lost her baubles to my trade Many a soldier shed his lifeblood on my blade The bastards hung me in the spring of twenty-five but I am still alive. I was a sailor. I was born upon the tide and with the sea I did abide. I sailed a schooner round the Horn to Mexico I went aloft and furled the mainsail in a blow And when the yards broke off they said that I got killed but I am living still. I was a dam builder across the river deep and wide where steel and water did collide A place called Boulder on the wild Colorado I slipped and fell into the wet concrete below They buried me in that great tomb that knows no sound But I am still around I will always be around I fly a starship across the Universe divide and when I reach the other side I will find a place to rest my spirit if I can perhaps I may become a highwayman again Or I may simply be a single drop of rain but I will remain and I will be back again

I was a highwayman along the Coach roads, I did ride With the sword and pistol by my side Many young maid lost their baubles to my trade Many soldiers shed his life blood on my blade The bastards hung me in the spring of '25 But I am still alive And I was a sailor, I was born upon the tide And with the sea I did abide I sailed a schooner 'round the horn to Mexico I went aloft to furl the mainsail in a blow And when the yards broke off, they say that I got killed But I am living still I was a dam builder across the rivers, deep and wide Where steel and water did collide A place called Boulder on the wild Colorado I slipped and fell into the wet concrete below They buried me in that great tomb that knows no sound But I am still around I guess I'll always be around And 'round, and 'round, and 'round, and 'round I'll fly a starship across the universe divide And when I reach the other side I'll find a place to rest my spirit if I can Perhaps I may become a highwayman again Or I may simply be a single drop of rain But I will remain and I'll be back again And again, and again, and again, and again

I wish I was in Carrighfergus Only for nights in Ballygrant I would swim over the deepest ocean Only for nights in Ballygrant But the sea is wide, and I can't get over And neither have I wings to fly Or if I could find me a handsome boatsman To ferry me over to my love and die Now in Kilkenny, it is reported They've marble stones there, as black as ink With gold and silver, I would transport her But I'll sing no more now, 'til I get a drink I'm drunk today, but then I'm seldom sober A handsome rover from town to town Oh-oh, but I am sick now, my days are over Come all you young lads, and lay me down I wish I was in Carrighfergus Only for nights in Ballygran

This glancing life is like a morning star A setting sun, or rolling waves at sea A gentle breeze or lightning in a storm A dancing dream of all eternity The sand was shimmering in the morning light And dancing off the dunes so far away The night held music so sweet, so long And there we lay until the break of day We woke that morning at the onward call Our camels bridled up, our howdahs full The sun was rising in the eastern sky Just as we set out to the desert's cry Calling, yearning, pulling, home to you The tents grew smaller as we rode away On earth that tells of many passing days The months of peace and all the years of war The lives of love and all the lives of fears Calling, yearning, pulling, home to you We crossed the river beds all etched in stone And up the mighty mountains ever known Beyond the valleys in the searing heat Until we reached the caravanserai Calling, yearning, pulling, home to you Calling, yearning, pulling, home to you What is this life that pulls me far away? What is that home where we cannot reside? What is that quest that pulls me onward? My heart is full when you are by my side Calling, yearning, pulling, home to you Calling, yearning, pulling, home to you

White are the far-off plains And white the fading forests grow The wind dies out amongst the tides And denser still the snow A gathering weight on roof and tree Falls down scarce audibly The meadows and far-sheeted streams Lie still without a sound Like some soft minister of dreams The snowfall hoods me around In wood and water, earth and air A silence is everywhere Save when at lonely spells Some farmer's sleigh is urged on With rustling runner and sharp bells Swings by me and is gone Or from the empty waste I hear A sound remote and clear The barking of a dog To cattle, is sharply pued Borne, echoing from some wayside stall Or barnyard far afield Then all is silent and the snow Falls settling soft and slow The evening deepens and the grey Folds closer Earth to sky The world seems shrouded, so far away Its noises sleep, and I As secret as yon buried stream Plod dumbly on and dream And dream And dream I dream And I dream

Alas my love, you do me wrong To cast me off discourteously And I have loved you oh so long Delighting in your company Greensleeves was my delight Greensleeves, my heart of gold Greensleeves was my heart of joy And who but my Lady Greensleeves I have been ready at your hand To grant whatever thou would'st crave I have waged both life and land Your love and goodwill for to have Greensleeves was my delight Greensleeves was my heart of gold Greensleeves was my heart of joy And who but my Lady Greensleeves Thy petticoat of sendle white With gold embroidered gorgeously Thy petticoat of silk and white And these I bought thee gladly Greensleeves was my heart of gold Greensleeves was my heart of joy Greensleeves was my heart of joy And who but my Lady Greensleeves