MALLON'S BRIDGE
(Michael Hough)

Now, there's a tale I'm after singing that my Grandpa used to tell.
He said 'twas to enlighten me and chasten me as well:
You may laugh about your elders when the sun is shining bright,
But be sure you're on the Christian side of Mallon's Bridge tonight.

The village kirk is strong and tall beside the River Wyth,
And there are buried decent folk who said their prayers at night,
But just across the river, there's a ring of standing stones,
And there are buried hatreds older far than human bones.

Sean Mallon was a mason in the village long ago.
He set to build a bridge for the convenience of the road.
He thought he'd make his fortune taking pennies for the toll,
But he was swallowed up by something evil from of old.

Sean Mallon was a headstrong man and burly so they say,
And those who offered caution heard his laughter all the day.
He built his bridge with stones he stole upon the other side,
And cursed us all with vengeance from across the River Wyth.

And so the story grew among the elders and their wives,
Of those who ventured over Mallon's Bridge after midnight,
For some were heard to scream and some were never found alive,
And some were rendered speechless after running for their lives.

Now me, I'm no believer in such stories as they're told,
But things there are around us that can chill a heart so bold,
And never will I laugh again at Grandpa and his ale,
For I have been across the bridge and lived to tell the tale.

Oh, drunk I was at Paddy's Pub and turned to call for more,
And there I saw a lovely lass I'd never seen before.
Her wicked eye was gleaming and was greener than the sea,
And I was sure she'd never seen as fine a man as me.

She said her name was Moira and she touched me on the knee.
I offered her such gallantries as then occurred to me.
She said that she would meet with me and spend the night alone,
Across the River Wyth inside the ring of standing stones.

Oh, drunk I was, it's true, and so too quick did I agree,
And quickly was she gone although I barely blinked my eye,
And so I bid my friends farewell and stood out from the light,
And made my way a-reeling over Mallon's Bridge that night.

Now mortal man was never born more cowardly than I,
But drinking Murphy's whiskey throws my fear into the sky,
And so I found myself feeling foolish and alone,
And lusting for a woman in a ring of standing stones.

The fear fell sudden on me; I confess I turned to run,
And something ran behind me; how I wished then for the sun!
And close it came behind me ever faster though I ran,
And breath I felt and eyes I saw that were no beast nor man.

Well, I ran a-fearing more for my own soul than for my life,
And so I saw the moon a-gleaming on the River Wyth,
And what it was that hunted me I venture not to say,
For devils walk in many forms that shun the light of day.

I ran and fell and ran again just like a man possessed.
If I had been the slower—I refuse to make a guess—
But I became a humble man and glad to be alive,
By coming nigh the village kirk and safe across the Wyth.

So tell me of your weary faith and of the worldly load.
I'll tell you of the tracks of cloven hooves there in the road,
For I was found by day lying shivering in the dirt,
With rents of claws and stains of Devil's Breath upon my shirt.

Ah, but still I am a drinking man and merry now for life.
For I outraced the Devil back across the River Wyth,
And many a pot of ale I hoist to my own lowly feat,
And to the lovely Moira whom I've no desire to meet.

And there's a tale I'm after singing that my Grandpa used to tell.
He said 'twas to enlighten me and chasten me as well:
You may laugh about your elders when the sun is shining bright,
But be sure you're on the Christian side of Mallon's Bridge tonight.

This is a great song recorded by Mustard's Retreat ("Back To Back," Red House Records CD72). Mustard's Retreat is David Tamulevich and Michael Hough

rich r