1. |
Silver Pebble
04:19
|
|||
|
The child picked up a silver pebble
Thrown, tide-up, on a silver beach
The child picked up a silver pebble
Thrown, tide-up, on a silver beach
"Open it, open it!"
Baby boy said as I held it.
"I can't, my love. I can't."
Well I had to tell him
Some things are secrets
All you can do is smash them to nothing.
"Open it, open it!"
Babyboy said as I held it.
"I can't, my love. I can't."
Well he looked at it
He took his foot and he jumped on it,
But unlike his heart when he grows up
It did not give out.
"Open it, open it!"
Babyboy said as I held it.
"I can't, my love. I can't."
|
||||
2. |
Sweet Dreams of Nancy
03:27
|
|||
|
Oh the sweet dreams of Nancy
They divide in two parts.
Where the young men in dancing
Do meet their sweethearts
And drinking strong liquor
Well it makes my heart sing
And the sound of the viol
Well it makes my heart ring.
On yonder tall mountain
A castle does stand
And it's built of white ivory
All above the black sand.
All of ivory builded
And with diamonds so bright
And with gold it is gilded
And it shines in the night.
On younger high moorland
The wildfowl do fly
And one fair song them
Soars than others more high.
Well if I had my true love
Near the diamonds black sands
How soon I would tame him
With the sleight of my hand.
|
||||
3. |
Pretty Polly
05:40
|
|||
|
"Oh Polly, oh Polly, Oh will you agree?
Oh will you agree and get married to me?"
"oh William, oh William, that never will do,
For I am too young to get married to you."
"Oh Polly, oh Polly, if you will agree
Before we get married some pleasure we'll see."
And he led her over mountains and valleys so deep
'Til at length pretty Polly she began for to weep.
"oh William, oh William, you're leading me astray
On purpose, my innocent heart to betray."
"Oh Polly, oh Polly, I guess you spoke right,
I was digging your grave the best part of last night."
Well she fold her arms round him without any fear
Saying "You would not harm the girl that loves you so dear".
"Oh Polly, oh Polly, you've no time to stand."
And he's drawn the long knife out all in his right hand.
And he's pierced through her heart and the blood it did flow
And into the grave her fair body did throw.
Then away from her graveside, away he did go;
He left nothing but the small birds to make their sad moan.
And he's boarded his ship and he's reeled the anchor in,
And he's up on the wave with the fairest of winds,
But while he was a-sailing to his full heart's content,
The ship sprung a leak and to the bottom then she went.
And while he was lying there all in his sad surprise,
He saw pretty Polly, she came up before his eyes.
Crying: "William, oh William, you've no time to stay;
There's a debt to the devil which you're bound for to pay."
|
||||
4. |
Bonny Boy
04:16
|
|||
|
I once loved a boy
And a bonny, bonny boy:
He came and he went at request.
And this handsome young boy was my pride and my joy,
And I built him a bower at my breast.
I built him bower at my breast.
Well it's up the long alley
And down the green valley,
Like one that was troubled in mind.
I hallowed and I whooped
And I played upon my flute,
But no bonny boy could I find.
But no bonny boy could I find.
So I sat myself down
On a green mossy bank
Where the sun did shine wonderful warm.
And who should I spy
But my own bonny boy
Fast locked in some other girl's arm.
Fast locked in some other girl's arm.
Well the girl that's the joy
Of my little bonny boy
Let her make of him all that she can.
For whether he loves me
Or whether he don't
I will walk with that boy now and then.
I will walk with that boy now and then.
|
||||
5. |
||||
|
My father turned me out of doors,
I'd no home nor habitation.
I took my dog, my gun and snares
Away to the old plantation.
I'll never want for a piece of bread
While there's hares in the old plantation.
We up and crossed a field or two,
Without a hesitation,
When up jumped one and away she ran
Away to the old plantation.
When up jumped one and away she ran
Away to the old plantation
My dog he started after her
Without an invitation.
He caught her by the back so small
Leaping in the old plantation
He caught he by the back so small
Leaping in the old plantation.
I went into a public house!
On the table threw her down sir.
"A brace of hares I'll give to thee
If thou will pay me a crown sir."
"A brace of hares I'll give to thee
If thou will pay me a crown sir."
And I'll never want for a piece of bread
While there's hares in the old Plantation.
|
||||
6. |
Song of Wandering Aengus
04:43
|
|||
|
I went out to the hazel wood
Because a fire was in my head.
I cut and peeled a hazel wand
And hooked a berry to a thread;
And when white moths were on the wing,
And moth-like stars were flickering out,
I dropped a berry in a stream
And caught a little silver trout.
When I had laid it on the floor,
I went to blow the fire aflame,
But something rustled on the floor
And someone called me by my name;
It had become a glimmering girl
With apple blossom in her hair,
Who called me by my name and ran
And faded through the brightening air.
Though I am old with wandering
Through hollow lands and hilly lands,
I will find out where she has gone,
And kiss her lips and take her hands;
And walk among long dappled grass
And pluck 'til time and times are done,
The silver apples of the moon
The golden apples of the sun.
|
||||
Mary Hampton recommends:
I Fed Thee Rabbit Water
by Birdengine
Dark, strange, poetic, muscular, visionary. This EP is potent; be careful.
go to album
Oh Vanille / ova nil
by Diane Cluck
I think this exquisite album was grown from some magic beans or something because it just keeps on giving...
go to album
The sense of light and colour this album creates is so otherworldly: Josephine Foster's ethereal voice fluttering high over those creaky, mud-spattered arrangements. Astonishing.
go to albumIf you like Mary Hampton, you may also like:
Irish singer-songwriter Oisin Leech's acoustic folk music is characterized by its muted beauty and intimate, solitary quality.
go to album
Introspective pop songs with transcendent melodies offer a joyful meditation on staying present in a world that often moves too fast.
go to album
A dark, atmospheric blend of instrumental folk and contemporary jazz, exploring the unusual settings of traditional melodic ideas.
go to album
