Silent Voices by Amergin
(Tune:  Star of the County Down) (originally posted in this thread)

Amergin's Comments:  This recent talk of departing loved ones has got me to thinking about the ones that I have lost . . . . My great aunts and uncles and friends . . . . It got me to thinking about all the stories that were never recorded.  About all of the important facts of our histories that are lost forever.  It got me to thinking of the voices I will never hear again . . . the laughter . . . the joking . . . I mentioned in another thread that this had the makings of a song or something . . . . Hold on to your memories, for they are the greatest gifts bestowed upon us by those who have gone before . . . and if you have the chance record the stories of your elders or your own . . . . Blessed be.

In the woods one night, round a fire bright
Were my loved ones, dead and gone,
I stood and stared in the frosty air,
And the moon was pale and drawn;
Oh, they looked at me and smiled at me
And they beckoned me to a chair,
But I stood amazed, in the glowing blaze
And I thought, "Was I really there?"

CHORUS:
Oh, their voices rang and the coyotes sang,
And the laughter began to roar.
Round the crackling might of the fire bright
Were the voices I shall hear no more.

"Sit down" they said and I shook my head
To clear the visions of my dream,
But the forms they stayed so I obeyed,
And their eyes began to gleam
They began to sing and the woods to ring,
Twas a song that I heard before,
Oh, in the fiery heat they sounded sweet
The voices I shall hear no more

(Chorus)

The coyotes wailed as they told their tales
Of the life upon the range;
I looked around as the flames died down
And the skies began to change.
The mists arose and I watched them go
And my heart grew pale with woe,
With a tearful cry I bade goodbye
To the voices I'll hear no more.

(Chorus)

Now among the trees in the wintry breeze
On the paths I walk alone
With great delight I found where the fire bright
Burned red among the stones.
Amidst the storm the coals were warm
From the craic of the night before,
I smiled my friend for in the wind
Whispered the voices I'll hear no more.

© Nathan Tompkins