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Lady Diamond

-Traditional (From Steeleye Span: Back in Line)

There was a lord who lived in the north country
He was a man of wealth and fame
He only had one child, a child but only one
And Lady Diamond was her name

She did not love a lord, she did not love a king
She loved a kitchen boy and William was his name
And though he brought her joy, he also brought her shame
And he gave his heart to Lady Diamond

CHORUS:
And his hair shined like gold said Lady Diamond
And his eyes like crystal stone Said Lady Diamond
Bright as the silver moon
Bright as the sun that shines
On Lady Diamond

It was a winters night, the Lord could get no rest
To Lady Diamond's room he came
He sat down on the bed just like a wandering ghost
Now Lady Diamond tell me plain

Do you Love a lord, he said, or do you love a king?
I love a kitchen boy and William is his name
And better a love that boy then all your well dressed men
I love his heart, said Lady Diamond

Where are all my men, he said, that I pay meat and fee
Go fetch the kitchen boy and bring him here to me
They dragged him from the house and hung him on a tree
And they gave his heart to Lady Diamond

Chorus

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Lament of the Fisherman' Wife

(Andy Stewart- From Silly Wizard: Wild and Beautiful)

By the storm torn shoreline, A woman is standing
The spray strung like jewels in her hair
And the sea tore the rocks, near that desolate landin
As though it had known she stood there

Chorus:
And now she has come down to condemn that wild ocean
For the murderous loss of her man
His boat sailed out on Wensday mornin'
And its feared she's gone down with all hands

Aye an' white were the wave caps, an' wild was their partin'
So fierce is the warrin' of love
An' she prayed to the gods, both of men and of sailors
No' to cast their cruel nets over her lads

Chorus

There's a school on the hill, where the sons of dead fathers
Are led towards tempests an' gales
Where their god given wings are clipped close to their bodies
And their eyes are bound round wi' ships sails

Chorus

What force leads a man to a life filled with danger
Aye on seas are a mile underground
It's when need is his master, and poverty's no stranger
And there's no other work to be found

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The Last Rose of Summer

By Thomas Moore

Midi and sheet http://sniff.numachi.com/~rickheit/dtrad/lookup.cgi?ti=LASTROSE&tt=LASTROSE

''Tis the last rose of summer, left blooming all alone
All her lovely companions are faded and gone.
No flower of her kindred, no rose bud is nigh
To reflect back her blushes and give sigh for sigh.

I'll not leave thee, thou lone one! to pine on the stem
Since the lovely are sleeping, go sleep thou with them
'Thus kindly I scatter thy leaves o'er the bed
Where thy mates of the garden lie scentless and dead.

So soon may I follow, when friendships decay
And from love's shining circle the gems drop away
When true hearts lie wither'd and fond ones are flown
Oh! who would inhabit this bleak world alone!
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Leprehaun

In a shady nook one moonlight night
A leprehaun I spied,
With scarlet cap and coat of green;
A cruiskenn by his side.
'Twas a tick tack tick, his hammer went,
Upon a tiny shoe,
And I laughed to think of a purse of gold;
But the fairy was laughing too!

With a tip toe step and beating heart,
Quite softly I drew nigh:
There was mischief in his merry face;
A twinkle in his eye.
He hammered and sang with tiny voice,
And drank his mountain dew;
And I laughed to think he was caught at last:
But the fairy was laughing too!

As quick as thought I seized the elf;
"Your fairy purse!" I cried;
"The purse!" he said "'tis in her hand
"That lady at your side!"
I turned to look: the elf was off!
Then what was I to do?
O, I laughed to think what a fool I'd been;
And the fairy was laughing too!

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Leprosy

-Non-Traditional To the tune of "Yesterday" by the Beatles

Leprosy,
All my skin is falling off of me
And it's simple, very plain to see
I've got a case of Leprosy

Leprosy,
Friends and family shy away from me
And I can't afford a colony
Oh I am stuck with Leprosy

Why I have to rot, I know not
I cannot say
Gangrene is better but
I an stuck, with Leprosy

Leprosy,
All my clothes are dirty rags you see
Thats why all the people stare at me
Oh why do I have Leprosy

Why I have to rot, I know not
I cannot say
Gangrene is better but
I am stuck with Leprosy

Leprosy,
I'm not half the man I used to be
Thats 'cause half of me is dead you see
Oh I am plagued with Leprosy

(What do you call a leper in a sauna......Stew.)

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Let Erin Remember

Let Erin Remember the Days of Old

By Thomas Moore (words only http://sniff.numachi.com/~rickheit/dtrad/lookup.cgi?ti=ERINREMB)

Let Erin remember the days of old,
Ere her faithless sons betray'd her,
When Malachi wore the collar of gold,
Which he won from her proud invader;
When her kings, with standard of green unfurl'd,
Led the Red-Branch knights to danger;
Ere the em'rald gem of the western world
Was set in the crown of a stranger.

On Lough Neagh's band, as the fisherman strays,
When the clear cold eve's declining,
He sees the round tow'rs of other days
In the wave beneath him shining!
Thus shall mem'ry often, in dreams sublime,
Catch a glimpse of the days that are over;
Thus sighing, look thro' the waves of Time
For the long faded glories they cover!
I hope the lyrics can help you

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Life By The Sword

-Traditional

William in his castle lay, Sword and Shield beside him
A lovely Lady at his side, but alas he lay there dying
Far away the sounds were heard, the screams of men and fighting
The ring of steel rang through the air, his castle lay in ruins

Closing his eyes he lay back his head, clutching his Lady to him
And he Dreamed a last Dream of an age that might come
When the sword would be laid down for good

His Lady washed away the dirt, on his face, from the dust of battle
But even her tender gentleness, did ought to soothe her sorrow
In the courtyard below, the enemy swarmed, in droves of hundreds
to thousands
Destroying resistance wherever it came, the battle would soon be over

Life by the Sword is noble at best, But higher is the price you pay
And the one who will win is the one who's named Death
Till the Sword is laid down for good

Now all that stands of his castle today, is a pile of stones
and rubble
The bones of the men have long since decayed, their glories
been forgotten

Life by the Sword is noble at best, but higher is the price you pay
And the one who will win is the one who's named Death
Till the Sword is laid down for good

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Lillie The Pink

-Traditional

CHORUS:
OH, I'll drink and drink and drink
To Lillie the Pink, the Pink, the Pink
The savior of the human race
She invented, Medicinal Compound
With applications in every case

Now here's a story, a little bit gory
A little bit happy, a little bit sad
Of Lillie the Pink, and her Medicinal Compound
And how it drove her to the bad

Well Ebeneezer thought he was Julius Caesar
So they put him in a home
Then they gave him Medicinal Compound
And now he's Emperor of Rome

Chorus

Paddy Klinger, the Opera singer
Could break a glass with his voice to save
Rubbed his tonsils with Medicinal Compound
Now they break glasses o'er his head

Chorus

Tinny Hammer, had a terrible stammer
He could hardly say a word
And so they gave him Medicinal Compound
And now he's seen and never heard

Chorus

Uncle Paul, he was very small, he
Was the shortest man in town
Rubbed his body with Medicinal Compound
Now he weighs only half a pound

Chorus

Lilly died and went to heaven
All the church bells they did ring
She took Her Medicinal Compound
Hark the Herald Angels sing

Chorusx2

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Lindsay

(From John Renbourne: Live in America)

Now Lindsay he has taken to the road, straight to the North he'll steer
With his face and a fiddle in his pack, he'll make a living its clear
He's well met with a peddler group, and a chance to a chance at the Inn
He' called to the rail, and he's taken the fife, and he's careful to stick to the tune

Now all through the night they fiddle and fife, for the dancers have taken to the floor
They neither one took a pipe or a glass, or a lass while the music was on
They played up through the markets and fairs, till a glance to the north they've come
And there they met Black Janet De'Willie, who sang as she rattled a drum

Now Lindsay's asked Black Janet to dance, and ye never saw so bonny a pair
She has taken him firm by the hand, and she's kicked to the top of the stair
"Here" she said "is a fine feather bed, where a man be weary or creel
May step for me against Strathspey, Wi' me lute and the tune in his ears

Now Janet was as good as her word, Lindsay has proven his worth
May ye all have so merry a dance if ever ye come to the north

Now Lindsay he has taken to the road, straight to the Northhill still
With his face and a fiddle in his pack, he'll make a living its clear
He's well met with a peddler group, and a chance to a chance at the Inn
He' called to the rail, and he's taken the fife, and he's careful to stick to the tune

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Loch Lomond

(Traditional)
words only (
http://sniff.numachi.com/~rickheit/dtrad/lookup.cgi?ti=LOCHLMND&tt=LOCHLMND)

By yon bonnie banks and by yon bonnie braes
Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond,
Where me and my true love were ever wont to gae,
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.

CHORUS
Oh! Ye'll take the high road, and I'll take the low road,
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye,
But me and my true love we'll never meet again,
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.

'Twas then that we parted, in yon shady glen
On the steep, steep side of Ben Lomond,
Where in purple hue, the Highland hills we view
And the moon coming out in the glooming.

The wee birdies, and the wildflowers spring
And in sunshine the waters are sleeping,
But the broken heart it kens nae second spring again,
Tho' the waeful may cease frae their grieving.

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Loch Tay Boat Song

(Traditional- From Silly Wizard: Kiss the Tears Away)

midi and sheet http://sniff.numachi.com/~rickheit/dtrad/lookup.cgi?ti=LOCHTAY&tt=LOCHTAY

When I'm done the work of day
And I row my boat away
Dawn the waters of Loch Tay
When the evening light is fallen

Then I look towards Ben Lass
Where the after glories glow
And I dream of two bright eyes
Where the Mary Mirth glow

She's my beauteous Maiden Loch
She's my Joy and Sorrow too
Though I own she is not true
Ah, but I cannot live without her

For my heart's a boat in two
And I'd give the world to know
If she means to let me go
As I send me slowly home

And in Loch her loving hair
Has more beauty I declare
Then all the tresses fair
From Cildain to Aber Felde

Be they lent, white, gold, or brown
Be they blacker than the sloe
They meant not as much to me
As a melten flake of snow

And her dance is like the gleam
Of the sunlight on the stream
And the songs that we folk sing
Oh they're songs that she sings milkin'

But my heart is full of woe
For last night she bade me go
And the tears began to flow
As I silently go home

(Repeat first verse)

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Loki's Song

Mikal Hrafspa (Mikal the Ram)

I was born in battle's fire
But when that storm god you all praise
Laid beside my mother's corpse
Walks the earth and shatters trees

My toys the ravens of the field
You huddle close beside my gift
My lullabies the screams of horse
And whisper prayers beside the spit
And as the woodsmoke turns and twists
But when that storm god you all praise
You owe your lives to sly Loki.

Walks the earth and shatters trees
You huddle close beside my gift
So sit beside the fires gleam
And whisper prayers beside the spit
And count the wrongs that I have borne
And as the woodsmoke turns and twists
I wait for Ragnarok and dream
You owe your lives to sly Loki.

Hark! Is that the battles horn?

Odin saw me on the field
And recognized his bastard son
There he claimed me for his own
Heir to all that he had won

But when that storm god you all praise
Walks the earth and shatters trees
You huddle close beside my gift
And whisper prayers beside the spit
And as the woodsmoke turns and twists
You owe your lives to sly Loki.

I am the slyest of the gods
Fire is the gift I gave
I am swifter than the wind
And none can match the tricks I've played

But when that storm god you all praise
Walks the earth and shatters trees
You huddle close beside my gift
And whisper prayers beside the spit
And as the woodsmoke, turns and twists
You owe your lives to sly Loki.

What is the honor they give me?
Denied a seat in Odin's hall
Forbidden fruits from Idun's tree
And cast outside of Asgard's walls

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Long Distance Squire

By- Galen of Bristol & Genvieve McCullum du Caen

(Tune- Cats in the Cradle)

Squired a lad just the other day
Gave him his belt in the usual way
But there were wars to fight, and men to slay
He made his sword while I was away
And he was fighting 'fore I knew it, and as he grew
He'd say "I'm Going to be like you, Sir
You know I'm going to be like you"

CHORUS:
And the cats in the cradle, and the silver spoon
Little Squire boy, and the Man in the Moon
When you coming home, Sir? I don't know when
But we'll get together then, Squire
You know we'll have a good fight then

He became a lord just the other day
He said "Thanks for the shield, Sir, come on lets play
Can you teach me to kill?" I said "Not today
I got a lot to do." He said "That's okay"
And he walked away, but his smile never dimmed
He said "I'm going to be like him, yeah
You know I'm going to be like him"

Chorus

He came from Pennsic just the other day
So much like a Knight I just had to say
"Squire I'm proud of you, can you fight for a while?"
He shook his head and he said with a smile
"What I'd really like, Sir, Is to borrow your tent please
See you later, will you leave us in peace?"

Chorus

He's long been a knight, he's traveled far away
I saw him here just the other day
"I'd like to learn that snap blow, if you don't mind?"
He said "I'd teach you sir if I could find the time
But see the new Crown's a hassle, and the squires are new
But it's been nice sparring with you"
And as the King walked away, it occurred to me
He'd grown up just like me. My Squire was just like me

Chorus

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The long riding

Into the valley
Come riding, Come riding,
Into the meadow and into the dell,
Into the moonlight where shadows are gliding,

Chorus

Into the forest where enemies hiding,
Riding riding,
Three come a riding
Three come a riding
Into the mouth of hell.

Into the village,
Come riding, come riding,
Into the hames where the sweet women dwell,
Into the rests where the men are a biding.

Chorus

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Lord Gorum

O where have you been all day, Gorum, my son?
The bull, the bear, the cat and hound,

Where have you been all day, my pretty one?
And the brothers have pulled me down.

I've been far afoot, with my staff in my hand,
The bull , the bear, the cat, and the hound,
I have been out walking my dead father's land,
And the brothers have pulled me down.

I looked in the mountains, I looked in the sea,
The bull, the bear, the cat, and the hound,
A looking for someone a looking for me,
And the brothers have pulled me down.

Wheat have ye for supper, Lord Gorum, my son?
The bull, the bear, the cat, and the hound,
What have ye for supper, my pretty young one?
And the brothers have pulled me down.

I've nothing for supper and nothing to rise,
The bull, the bear, the cat, and the hound,
But fed on the look in my own true love's eyes,
And the brothers have pulled me down.

What will ye leave to that true love, my son?
The bull, the bear, the cat, and the hound.
What will she leave you, my handsome young one?
And the brothers have pulled me down.

My kingdom, my crown, my name, and my grave,
The bull the bear the cat and the hound,
Her hair her heart her place in the came,
And the brothers have pulled me down.

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Lord of the dance

(can be sung to "simple gifts" or to the tune by Jenny Peckham-Vanzant)

When she danced on the water and the wind was her horn,
The lady laughed and everything was born.
And when she lit the sun and it's light gave him birth,
the Lord of the Dance first appeared on the Earth.

Chorus:
Dance, dance, where ever you may be,
I am the lord of the dance, said he
I live in you, if you live in me,
And I lead you all in the dance, said he.

I dance in the circle when the flames leap up high;
I dance in the fire and I never, ever die.
I dance in the waves of the bright summer sea,
For I am the Lord of the waves' mystery.

Chorus

I sleep in the kernel and I dance in the rain.
I dance in the wind and through the waving rain,
And when you cut me down I care nothing for the pain,
In the Spring I'm the lord of the dance once again.

Chorus

I dance at the Sabbat when you dance out the spell,
I dance and sing that everyone be well,
And when the dancing's over do not think that I am gone
To live is to dance, so I dance on and on.

Chorus

The horn of the lady cast its sound 'cross the plain,
The birds took the notes and gave them back again,
Till the sound of her music was a song in the sky,
And to that song there is one reply.

Chorus

The moon in her phases and the tides of the sea,
The movement of the earth and the seasons that will be
Are the rhythm for the dancing and a promise through the years
That the dance goes on through our joy and tears.

Chorus

They danced in the darkness and they danced in the night,
They danced on the earth and everything was light.
They danced out the darkness and they danced in the dawn
And the day of that dancing still goes on.

Chorus

I gaze on the heavens and I gaze on the earth,
And I feel the pain of dying and rebirth,
And I lift my head in gladness and in praise for the day
Of the Dance of the Lord and the Lady gay.

Chorus

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Lord Randal

Melody - From the west highlands of Scotland; Seq. by Ron Clarke

O where have you been, Lord Randal, my son?
O where have you been, my bonny young man?
I've been with my sweetheart, mother make my bed soon
For I'm sick to the heart and I fain would lie down.

And what did she give you, Lord Randal, my son?
And what did she give you, my bonny young man?
Eels boiled in brew, mother make my bed soon
For I'm sick to the heart and I fain would lie down.

What's become of your bloodhounds, Lord Randal, my son?
What's become of your bloodhounds, my bonny young man?
O they swelled and died, mother make my bed soon
For I'm sick to the heart and I fain would lie down.

O I fear you are poisoned, Lord Randal, my son,
O I fear you are poisoned, my bonny young man.
O yes, I am poisoned, mother make my bed soon
For I'm sick to the heart and I fain would lie down.

What will you leave your brother, Lord Randal, my son?
What will you leave your brother, my bonny young man?
My horse and the saddle, mother make my bed soon
For I'm sick to the heart and I fain would lie down.

What will you leave your sister, Lord Randal, my son?
What will you leave your sister, my bonny young man?
My gold box and rings, mother make my bed soon
For I'm sick to the heart and I fain would lie down.
What will you leave your true love, Lord Randal, my son?
What will you leave your true love, my bonny young man?
The tow and the halter to hang on yon tree,
And let her hang there for the poisoning of me.

www.acronet.net/~robokopp

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Lovers Heart

(Andy Stewart & Phil Cunningham- From Silly Wizard: Glint of Silver)

She was in the flowery garden, when first she caught my eye
And I just a marching soldier; she smiled as I passed by
The flowers she held were fresh an' fair, her lips were full and red
And as I passed that shady bower, she turned to me and said

Chorus:
Last night we spoke of love
Now were forced to part
you leave to the sound of a marching drum
And the beat of a lovers heart

She was by the shore in the evening, when next I saw my dear
Running barefoot by the waterside, she called as I drew near
The sunlight glanced at the waters edge, makin' fire of her auburn hair
My young heart danced at her parting words that hung in the evening air

Chorus

She was on the Strand next morning when orders came to sail
And as we slipped our ropes away I watched her from the rail
She threw me a rose which fell between us, and floated in the bay
And as our ship pulled from the shore, I heard her call and say

Chorus

Now the soldiers life won't suit me, sweet music is my trade
For I'd rather melt the heardest heart, than pierce it with a blade
Let the time be short 'til I return to my home in the north of Skye
And the loving girl who stole my heart, with these words as I passed by

Chorus

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Lullaby of Spring

Rain has showered far her drip
Splash and trickle running Plant has flowered in the sun
Shell and pebble sunnning

Chorus
So begins another spring
Green leaves and of berries
Chiff-chaff eggs are painted by
Mother-bird eating cherries

In a misty tangled sky
Fast a wind is blowing
In a newborn rabbit's heart
River life is flowing

Chorus x's2

From the dark and whetted soil
Petals are unfolding
From the stony village kirk
Easter bells of old rings

Chorus

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Lullaby to the Cat’s Babe

Hush, little mountain cat, Sleep in your den,
I'll sing of your mother who cradled fair Jen.
I'll sing of your mother who covered Jen's skin.
Flesh of your flesh did sweet Jenna lie in.

Sleep, little catkin,
Perchance you shall dream
Of rabbit and pheasant. And trout in the stream.
But Jenna will dream of the dark and the light.
Your mother will shelter her from the cold night.

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Lusty Young Smith

(Traditional - http://www.chivalry.com/cantaria/lyrics/lustysm.html)

Notes: Lusty Young Smith appears with both words and music in Thomas D'Urfey's Wit and Mirth: Pills to Purge Melancholy, which underwent several revisions from 1698 to 1717. The words and chorus are slightly different in the 1717 edition from the version here given. Thanks to Liam Mac Mhuire for the background.

(Key: D) guitar chords in [ ]

[G]A lusty young smith at his [D7]vice stood a-[G]filing.

His hammer laid by but his [D7]forge still a-[G]glow.

When [C]to him a [G]buxom young [D7]damsel came [G]smiling,

And asked if to [D7]work in her forge he would [G]go.

Chorus

With a [G]jingle bang jingle bang [C]jingle bang [G]jingle.

With a jingle bang jingle bang [D7}jingle high [G]ho.

"I will," said the smith, and they went off together,

Along to the young damsel's forge they did go.

They stripped to go to it, 'twas hot work and hot weather.

They kindled a fire and she soon made him blow.

Chorus...

Her husband, she said, no good work could afford her.

His strength and his tools were worn out long ago.

The smith said "Well mine are in very good order,

And I am now ready my skill for to show."

Chorus...

Red hot grew his iron, as both did desire,

And he was too wise not to strike while 'twas so.

Said she, "What I get I get out of the fire,

So prithee, strike home and redouble the blow."

Chorus...

Six times did his iron, by vigorous heating,

Grow soft in her forge in a minute or so,

But as often was hardened, still beating and beating,

But the more it was softened, it hardened more slow.

Chorus...

When the smith rose to go, quoth the dame full of sorrow:

"Oh, what would I give could my husband do so.

Good lad with your hammer come hither tomorrow,

But pray could you use it once more ere you go!"

Chorus...

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