Lyr Req: Long Meg and Her Daughters (S Lawrence)

Subject: Lyr Req: Long Meg and her daughters
From: GUEST,JudeL
Date: 09 Oct 14 - 10:37 AM

I have been listening to a recording of this as part of a collection called Seasons Ceremonies & Rituals it was sung by Linda Adams. I would really like a copy of the words if anyone out there has them.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Long Meg and her daughters
From: GUEST,#
Date: 09 Oct 14 - 04:58 PM

Do you have any lyrics at present?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Long Meg and her daughters
From: maeve
Date: 09 Oct 14 - 05:03 PM

Something tells me we've worked with this song before, but a quick search hasn't enlightened me.

Is this the song, Jude L.?
https://bop.fm/s/linda-adams/summer-long-meg-and-her-daughters

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Long Meg and her daughters
From: JHW
Date: 09 Oct 14 - 05:28 PM

Having been impressed by my visits to Long Meg and her Daughters I was curious about a song but for me the Play button on that link page brings up an error message

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Long Meg and her daughters
From: maeve
Date: 09 Oct 14 - 05:30 PM

Oh that's too bad, JHW. I just tried the link again and had no trouble on Firefox/Windows. When I have time I'll see if there are other links that would work for you.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Long Meg and her daughters
From: Reinhard
Date: 09 Oct 14 - 06:14 PM

Long Meg and Her Daughter was written by Stuart Lawrence, Morris dancer and songwriter from Dalton-in-Furness, and is about a Bronze Age stone circle at Little Salkeld near Penrith, Cumbria. Linda Adams' recording is originally from her and Paul Adams' 1978 Fellside album "Among the Old Familiar Mountains".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Long Meg and her daughters
From: JHW
Date: 10 Oct 14 - 05:22 AM

It is an impressive circle. The number of stones is said to be impossible to count. ie if you count them again you get a different number. That is indeed what I found...

Long Meg and her Daughters

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Long Meg and her daughters
From: Reinhard
Date: 10 Oct 14 - 10:25 AM

Like the uncountable Standing Stone in Lancre, on the edge of a moor. It is an extremely shy and magical stone, and hides when people try to count it. For this reason, nobody has been able to count it so far.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Long Meg and her daughters
From: GUEST,JudeL
Date: 12 Oct 14 - 04:21 PM

No I don't currently have any lyrics I was hoping someone else did as I would like to learn this song . I too was unable to play the song using the link Maeve posted. Hopefully it's the same song . It is available on Spotify track 15 (summer) on the "seasons ceremonies & rituals" album. I'm still hoping someone has the lyrics as my only other option is to try to write them down from repeatedly listening to it. Not ideal as I'm finding it hard to identify what many of the words are.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Long Meg and her daughters
From: JHW
Date: 13 Oct 14 - 05:37 AM

maeve - have tried to play Linda Adams again but still get "Oops! You found a unicorn! Looks like this song isn't available for you just yet. While we try to find it, kick back and enjoy some other tunes you might like."
Using XP and Firefox about 30. John

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Long Meg and her daughters
From: maeve
Date: 13 Oct 14 - 06:52 AM

I've no idea why, JHW. There must be something one needs to download. I had no problem listening any of the times I've checked it, but I'm not convinced it has the complete song, either- it's just the only recording I see online at the moment. I thought I'd found a different performance, but it's no longer to be found.

I'm sorry, JudeL, but either you'll need to transcribe the old fashioned way, or someone else will have to help you get in touch with the composer.

Reinhard, have you any other suggestions? I haven't found any way to contact Stuart Lawrence, nor have I found lyrics online.

Subject: Lyr Add: LONG MEG AND HER DAUGHTERS (S Lawrence)
From: Reinhard
Date: 13 Oct 14 - 12:27 PM

I've tried to transcribe this; corrections are welcome.

Long Meg and Her Daughters (Stuart Lawrence)
As sung by Linda Adams on "Among the Old Familiar Mountains"

The helm winds are blowing, there's ill to be done
Follow the fiend far over the fell
And the witches are met by the set of the sun
Come drive him below to the sound of the bell

Long Meg gave the summons and so they gained forth
Follow the fiend far over the fell
From the east, the west, the south, and the north
Come drive him below to the sound of the bell

They raised such a storm that you never did hear
Follow the fiend far over the fell
In the bay of Eden for many a year
Come drive him below to the sound of the bell

Now there came an old hermit who strode through the night
Follow the fiend far over the fell
With an old tattered cloak and a beard long and white
Come drive him below to the sound of the bell

He stepped into their midst with his cross in his hand
Follow the fiend far over the fell
And fearlessly bade them in silence to stand
Come drive him below to the sound of the bell

Long Meg gave a laugh - Do you dare interfere?
Follow the fiend far over the fell
All through we will tell you to be such(?) light here
Come drive him below to the sound of the bell

But he lifted his hands and he uttered a prayer
Follow the fiend far over the fell
While Long Meg gave a terrible cry of despair
Come drive him below to the sound of the bell

She was turned into stone on the spot where she stood
Follow the fiend far over the fell
But the others about her a terrible brood
Come drive him below to the sound of the bell

So the tempest abaded he went on his way
Follow the fiend far over the fell
And let them to stand where you see them today
Come drive him below to the sound of the bell

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Long Meg and her daughters
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Oct 14 - 01:22 PM

Wonderful, Reinhard. Thank you very much for all your help. I'm sure JudeL and others who like this song will be grateful! I suggest the word "abated" in place of "abaded" in the final stanza: "So the tempest abated, he went on his way".

A thought, JudeL and JHW- I'm in North America- might that link not yet be available outside of North America just as BBC England programs are not available for us?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Long Meg and her daughters
From: GUEST,judel
Date: 15 Oct 14 - 10:56 AM

Could be Maeve , could be . Meanwhile, thank you ever so much Reinhard.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Long Meg and her daughters
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Oct 14 - 01:24 PM

You said corrections are welcome, I hope you meant that and are not offended. Having listened to it again with your words as a very welcome baseline there's a few words & one line which I think need changing.

2nd verse   so they "came" forth
3rd verse   such a storm "as" you never
In the "vale" of Eden
6th verse 3rd line "Oh fool we will tear you to pieces right here"
9th verse and "left" them to stand

That said thanks again for doing the major work in the first place

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Long Meg and her daughters
From: Reinhard
Date: 15 Oct 14 - 02:08 PM

Thank you very much, anonymous guest, for your corrections. It's a pity that one can't edit one's previous posts but at least I could correct the verses on my website Mainly Norfolk.