Gayla Drake Paul 2007, Ivanhoe Road Music (ASCAP)
Tuning CGCFGC
Chill wind, darkness falling
Early night, I hear you calling
From beyond the veil
Cold night, rips right through you
Fire sparks up, like it knows you
From beyond the veil
Oh red-haired sister of the night
Ride easy, ride on
The army of the dead walks behind
Ride easy, ride on
Whispers, silent partners
Old friends and co-walkers
From beyond the veil
Black cat, lantern burning
Lights flicker, world is turning
Closer to the veil
Oh red-haired mother of the night
Ride easy, ride on
The army of the dead walks behind
Ride easy, ride on
Lay me down on a bed of bright leaves
Full moon shines on naked trees
From beyond the veil
Sharp smoke, smells so sweet
The tired earth slips into sleep
Slips behind the veil
Oh red-haired daughter of the night
Ride easy
The army of the dead walks behind
Ride easy
Ride on
GD Paul 1999, Ivanhoe Road Music (ASCAP)
Tuning DADGAD, Capo IV
A child this day is born
A child of earth and sky
Born each year this morning
The divine son of light
By countless generations
Loved, worshipped and revered
In and endless procession
For thousands of years
REFRAIN
Hold him up, hold him high
He's the king of the summer sky
Now his strength and power grow
Born of winter snow
Hold him up, hold him high
He's the light of truth that shines
A child this day is born
This cold winter morning
She waited with such patience
Her lover to receive
For the love of the whole world
This child was conceived
And now she turns around so slowly
With the blessing of that night
What she conceived in darkness
She brings forth in light
REFRAIN
Now we wait in this dark chamber
In prayer all through the night
Like the ancestors before us
For this morning's first light
And now awake with breathless wonder
The first rays do appear
And we shout, "Hallelujah!
The new king is here!"
REFRAIN
GD Paul 1999, Ivanhoe Road Music (ASCAP)
Tuning CGDGBD
Winter's turning came with wind and cold
The ground covered with ice and snow
But the days are getting longer again
You can feel winter slip away
As the day turns to twilight
I pull Brighid's Cloak around me tight
Out under the stars tonight
I'll take my place in it all
I am a leaf on a branch of a tree with many rings
I am a word in a book of many pages
And I am a hill on the land
I am the fingers of one hand
As the moon rises higher
Gather kindling and lay a fire
I seek the warmth of the flames
To strengthen me on my way
As I surrender to the moonglow
I pull Brighid's Cloak around me close
And forget everything I know
As I sink into it all
I am a leaf on a branch of a tree with many rings
I am a word in a book of many pages
And I am a drop in the sea
I am a salmon's silver leap
When the fire starts to burn
Drink from the cup, but a measure reserve
Saying I offer this portion to you
To whom we all must return
And as the flames leap to banish the dark
I pull Brighid's Cloak around my heart
I'm safe as though I'm in her arms
And I give thanks for it all
I am a leaf on a branch of a tree with many rings
I am a word in a book of many pages
And I am the strength in a name
I am a candle's dancing flame
I am a leaf on a branch of a tree with many rings
I am a word in a song passed down for ages
And I am a light in the sky
I am a poet's raging fire
Gayla Drake Paul 2007, Ivanhoe Road Music (ASCAP)
Tuning DADGAD
She wakes from slumber
And all life is singing her awake
A sweet return
We watch in wonder
As life unfolds and winter passes away
And spring is born
In the sky, underground
Know the wheel is spinning around
Perfect balance, day and night
And light returns
All the snow is melting
And my heart melts to see her arise
Yes, spring is here
We catch the strange sound
Of tender rain falling once again
And hearts are glad
We celebrate the first sight
Of early flowers reaching out from within
The softening land
In the sky, underground
Know the wheel is spinning around
Perfect balance, day and night
And light returns
Now the world is warming
And our hearts warm to see her arise
Yes, spring is here
GD Paul 2000, Ivanhoe Road Music (ASCAP)
Tuning CGDGBD
Weaving in and out of a circle 'round a pole
Colors of the spring fly in a dance of old
Eyes meet in the music, the rhythm takes flight
And hopes are sealed in the golden glow of the May fire bright
REFRAIN
And the melody beckons from the ancient past
And there is a rhythm that takes us back
In the footsteps of the elders
'Round a cherished, well-worn path
This line is not unbroken, some gaps are very long
No gap is too wide to be bridged by the power of song
This dance is celebration, this dance is pain
This dance honors the life that springs again
REFRAIN
The lovers are alone now when the dance is at an end
To step to another dance that turns the wheel again
Eyes meet in the rhythm, desire takes flight
And a love is sealed in the golden glow of the heart's true light
REFRAIN
Gayla Drake Paul 2007, Ivanhoe Road Music
Tuning DADEAE
One part shadow, one part light
Like the brightest star on the darkest night
Like a seed of hope in a time of blight
One part shadow, one part light
Expanding boundaries; open arms
Life is rich and full; land is soft and warm
Lay down with me, baby, between rows of corn
Hold on tight while the year makes this turn
One part shadow, one part light
Like a total eclipse brings on the night
Like a seed of doubt when you've won the fight
One part shadow, one part light
Guilty pleasures, secrets kept
The world that woke up while your world slept
The momentary weakness in the strongest adept
When the thing that hurts most is the last thing left
One part shadow, one part light
Like the full moon on a cloudless night
Like an innocent child with the second sight
One part shadow, one part light
On this brightest of days is born the child of the dark
In an eternal balance ordained by the stars
The fate of the world rests on these two hearts
The circle turns as they play their parts
One part shadow, one part light
Like the strongest love in the worst of times
The heaviest burden borne by a heart in flight
One part shadow, one part light
GD Paul 1999, Ivanhoe Road Music (ASCAP)
Tuning DADGAD
Battle-weary, can't seem to lay down
This sword of mine
Past exhausted and starving
Can't seem to clear my mind
Just when I'm ready to walk away
And let some other fool take my place
I raise my defeated eyes and see
Hope returning
REFRAIN
In the light of a thunderbolt
In the light of a thunderbolt
Oh the night lights up in a flash of wonder
In the light of a thunderbolt
A figure in bright armor
Wielding a silver spear
With every step he takes toward me
The darkness disappears
He touches my armor, my strength reborn
And I kill the dragon with a single blow
Sometimes just a touch is all it takes
To feel the power
REFRAIN
It's good to know when to hang on
When to let go
Sometimes in your darkest hour
You'll find your greatest hope
Just keep believing what you believe
And live your life as best you please
Keep your heartlight burning for all to see
And trust the power
REFRAIN
Gayla Drake Paul 2007, Ivanhoe Road Music (ASCAP)
Tuning DADGAE
Can you feel the change in the air?
North wind blows kisses through long hair
One more turning before the year is done
Old John Barleycorn is dead and gone
REFRAIN
And we bring the harvest home
The fruits of our labors, the sweat of our brow
And we bring the harvest home
We offer our thanks to the Mother and Father now
Verdant green turns to red and gold
Brown fields ready to sleep through the cold
One more turning before the year is done
Old John's death means life goes on
REFRAIN
BRIDGE
Load the tables, haul up the barrels
Call up the neighbors, break out the ale
Open our hearts and our homes
And let the north wind blow
Can you feel the change in the wind?
Draw closer to hearth and home and friends
One more turning before the year is done
Old John Barleycorn will have a fine son
REFRAIN