The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #67580   Message #1130520
Posted By: Susanne (skw)
06-Mar-04 - 04:31 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: The Sound of a Tear Not Cried (K Polwart)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE SOUND OF A TEAR NOT CRIED (K Polwart)
These are the lyrics from the Three Ravens booklet, with some explanations:

The Sound of a Tear Not Cried
(Karine Polwart)

Two men came to your ha' door
And you did not let them in
And you did not care
What had brought them there
They were bones covered ower wi' skin

When you looked again they were five and ten
All sighing a sorrowful sound
Did you hear the knell
Of the warning bell
Or the howl of a hunting hound

Then a hundred more came to your door
A-mutterin' and makin' their mane
Still you scorned at the skaith (dismissed their complaint)
You were aye sick-laith (really reluctant)
To keep them fae the wind and rain

As the night's grew long did you hear the throng
Roar like a ralliach tide (stormy)
Through the rising flood
Did you hear your own blood
Or the sound of a tear not cried

They will wait no more at your ha' door
For their waiting days are done
And there's no lock nor key
That will hold back the sea
There's no chains on the morning sun