Lyr Add: The Sound of a Tear Not Cried (K Polwart)

Subject: Lyr Add: Sound of a tear not cried
From: Lil Dog Turpy
Date: 05 Mar 04 - 08:57 AM

I have been singing the Sound of a tear not cried, written by Karine Polwart and recorded on the Three Raven's CD from Malinky, for a while. I searched here but could not find any transcription of the lyrics. I'll post my version here with what I could find out about the words I didn't know. I muddle through some sections (indicated by square brackets) and I'd appreciate help filling those sections.

The Sound of a Tear Not Cried
Karine Polwart

Two men came to your hall door
And you did not let them in
You did not care what had brought them there
They were bones covered o'er with skin

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

Then a hundred more came to your door
A muttering and [marking their names?]
Still you scored at the scaithe
Your eyes sa claith
To keep them for the wind and rain

And as the night grew long
Did you hear the throng
Roar like the [Rowyach tide?]
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 hall door
For their waiting days are done
There's no lock, nor key that can hold back the sea
There's no chains on the rising sun




In the second line of the third verse it sounds more like "marking their mainth" but I have no idea what that would mean.

In the third and fourth line I think a scaith is a scythe (as in the one death has - thanks to Jen Gow for that one!) and "eyes so claith" means eyes so closed, but then that wouldn't rhyme with scythe :-)

What or where is a Rowyach tide? pronounced row (as in a fight) yak (with a german sounding ch sound at the end)

It's a great tune - went down a treat on halloween!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sound of a tear not cried
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Mar 04 - 09:03 AM

tune?

Subject: Lyr Add: THE SOUND OF A TEAR NOT CRIED (K Polwart)
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 06 Mar 04 - 04:31 PM

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

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sound of a tear not cried (Karine Polwart
From: The Shambles
Date: 06 Mar 04 - 04:36 PM

I saw her on the BBC coverage of Celtic Connections last night. She had some very good songs. And I thought she worked very well with the band.

Someone to look out for?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sound of a tear not cried (Karine Polwart
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 06 Mar 04 - 04:54 PM

Most definitely, Shambles! Try their first album, Last Leaves, with her song 'Whaur Dae Ye Lie' (for the dead of the recent Balkan wars). It's also on the 'Scots Women' double CD.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sound of a tear not cried (Karine Polwart
From: My guru always said
Date: 07 Mar 04 - 04:44 AM

A Fantastic writer & singer. Have both CD's & also sing this song along with 'Thaney' & Malinky's arrangement of 'Three Ravens'. 'The False Lover Won Back' is another excellent arrangment. If anyone gets a chance to see these guys, go for it!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sound of a tear not cried (Karine Polwart
From: GUEST,mark dunlop
Date: 07 Mar 04 - 06:45 AM

Hello there. I play with Karine (and the others) in Malinky, and it's great to see people mentioning us. I just thought I'd add that Karine has recently brought out a solo cd (herself with a few other backing musicians) called Faultlines on Neon Label. It's all her own stuff, not all of it is folky (in fact, most of it isn't "folky" in the trad sense) but it's really good. Both Karine and Malinky will be at a few festivals round about the UK this summer - defintely Bromyard and Towersey at least. If you see us, say hello (thanks, Bob!) it's always great to meet Mudcat folk. All the best. m.d.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sound of a tear not cried (Karine Polwart
From: My guru always said
Date: 07 Mar 04 - 07:13 AM

Mark Dunlop: Thanks for letting us know about Karine's new CD. I assume that if you guys are at a festival then the CD will be available there? And the Malinky ones of course :-)

For those who can't wait till a UK festival, or those overseas, is her CD on general release?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sound of a tear not cried (Karine Polwart
From: Lil Dog Turpy
Date: 07 Mar 04 - 08:25 AM

Thanks Susanne - that makes a lot more sense :-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sound of a tear not cried (Karine Polwart
From: GUEST,mark dunlop
Date: 07 Mar 04 - 12:13 PM

Yep, the cd should be in the shops, or at least orderable. Try www.karinepolwart.com for her website. You may, of course, have a look at www.malinky.com for our band stuff too. Cheers! m.d.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sound of a tear not cried (Karine Polwart
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 09 Mar 04 - 02:04 PM

Mark reminded me, Karine has also teamed up with fellow singer Gill Bowman in the duo 'MacAlias' and made a CD 'Highwired' (Greentrax, 2000). Two great voices, and a mixture of trad. and self-penned material by both of them. Not all of it would be considered folky, I suppose, but a good listen. Don't know if 'MacAlias' is still going, though.

Mark, Malinky aren't booked for Sidmouth by any chance? Heard you at the Edinburgh folk club once and would love to do so again!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sound of a tear not cried (Karine Polwart
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Oct 16 - 10:54 AM

I sing this extraordinary song, and love it. But tho' I understand the language, I can't figure, apart from maybe ghosts and guilt, what the song is alluding to? I love to hear what others make of it. Gloria