Get all 9 Matt Schwarz releases available on Bandcamp and save 35%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Chamber Music, String Quartet 2 in C Minor, Demos, Wind in the Willows, Piano Music performed by Tim Goss, The Sleepy Hollow Years, String Quartet in D Minor - Matt Schwarz, The Journeyman Harper, and 1 more.
1. |
Robin Hood & Little John
07:21
|
|||
|
When Robin Hood was twenty years old
He happened to meet Little John
A jolly, brisk blade, right fit for the trade
For he was a lusty young man
Well, how did they meet? I'll tell you in brief
If you'll but listen a while
For this merry jest, among all the rest
I think it may cause you to smile
Brave Robin Hood called his merry men all
"Come tarry you here in this grove,
And heed that you all attend well my call
As through the forest I rove"
Then Robin shook hands with his merry men all
And bid them at present goodbye
Then, as near a brook his journey he took
A stranger he chanced to espy
They happened to meet on a long, narrow bridge
And neither of them would give way
Quoth bold Robin Hood, and sturdily stood
"I'll show you right Nottingham play"
"You speak like a coward," the stranger he said,
"As there with your longbow you stand.
How, I protest, could you shoot at my breast
When I have but a staff in my hand?"
"The name of a coward," said Robin, "I scorn"
And cut him a staff of green oak
This being done, away he did run
To the stranger and merrily spoke
"Now just see my staff, it's lusty and tough
Now here on the bridge let us play
Whoever falls in, the other shall win
The battle and then we'll away"
Then Robin he gave the stranger a bang
So hard it made his bones ring
The stranger he said, "this must be repaid
I'll give you as good as you bring"
The stranger gave Robin a crack on the crown
Which caused the blood to appear
Then Robin, enraged, more fiercely engaged
And followed with blows more severe
Oh, then in a fury the stranger he flew
Gave Robin a damnable look
And with a bold blow that laid him full low
He tumbled him into the brook
"Oh where have you gone, and where are you now"
The stranger he laughed and he cried
Quoth bold Robin Hood, "I'm down in the flood
And floating along in the tide"
Then Robin he waded all out of the deep
And pulled himself up by a thorn
And just at the last, he blew a loud blast
Straightway on his bugle horn
The hills they did echo, the valleys did ring
Which caused his brave men to appear
All dressed up in green, so brave to be seen
Straight up to their master did steer
"There's no one to harm you, be not afraid
These bowmen upon me do wait
There's threescore and nine, and if you'll be mine
My livery you can wear right straight"
"Oh, here is my hand," the stranger replied
"I'll serve you with all of my heart.
My name is John Little, a man of good mettle
Ne'er doubt me, I'll play out my part"
"This man's been called John Little," said Robin
"His name shall be changed anon
The words we'll transpose, so wheree'er he goes
His name shall be called Little John"
A brace of fat deer was quickly brought in
Good ale and strong liquor likewise
The feast was so good, all in the greenwood
Where that seven foot babe was baptized
Then music and dancing did fill out the day
At night when the sun waxed low
Then all the whole from they withdrew
And into their caves they did go
|
||||
2. |
The Faerie Queene
05:14
|
|||
|
Lost in thought, a fine young mortal knight into the fairy ring did stray
Unknowing that all men who trespass such enter the world 'twixt night and day
Exposed was he thus to the Elf-queene and at the mercy of her art
As, catching wind of him, she took the chase as does the houd pursue the hart
Faerie Queene: "I saw you in a dream, in which you took my hand
You led me through a wood, acrawl with things I fear
Granted me safe passage, showed me tenderness
And now, because of this, I hold you dear"
The Elf-queene risked a ride through Man's domain, to follow this knight to his home
And raised her voice in song to catch his heart, and in their bosoms love did bloom
When, in the past, this queene did sport with men, she never gave her soul away
But, as they gazed into each other's eyes, they knew their hearts' desire that day
Knight: "You opened up your heart, showed me what it contained
I found true love with you when I knew your true self
Enchantments you then used to bind myself to you
Unknowing that you needed not this help"
Back to her twilight land the Elf-queene brings her mortal man
Beauteous wonders, beyond his dreams, are shown to this man by his elven queen
Glorious magic enters his mind, washing out all thoughts of place and time
But, amidst all his joy, comes through the haze a yearning for the life he knew in past days
Knight: "I am a man and I must ride through mortal lands
Free me if you love the knight you once knew
If I do not leave this land that you have brought me to
I will lose substance and cease to exist
"I became who I am through hard training and strict regime
My mind and my body forged towards one bright goal
To become a knight arrant and protect the common folk
I can't drop my duty and fade from this earth"
The Elf-queene released her mortal knight, although the parting caused her woe
A man like this cannot be kept at home, but out into the world must go
He told her he must, anon, go abroad and give his life meaning with a quest
But gave a vow to her before parting, to bring the joy back to her breast
Knight: "I shall return to you as often as I can
I'll build a home with you, where we'll spend many hours
And though there may be times that we must be apart
I'll keep you always near, in my heart"
|
||||
3. |
The Woode So Wylde
02:17
|
|||
4. |
Lord Lovell
04:19
|
|||
|
Lord Lovell he stood by the castle gate
A-combing his milk-white steed
When up came lady Nancy Belle
To wish her lover good speed
Oh, where are you going, Lord Lovell? She said
Oh where are you going, says she
I'm going, my lady Nancy Belle
Strange countries for to see
When will you return, Lord Lovell? She said
When will you return, says she
In a year or two, or three at the most
I'll return to my lady Nancy
But he had not been gone a year and a day
Strange countries for to see
When languishing thoughts came into his mind
Lady Nancy Belle he'd go see
So he rode and he rode on his milk-white steed
Until he came to London Town
And there he heard St. Pancras's bells
And the people all mourning around
Oh what is the matter, Lord Lovell he said
Oh, what is the matter, said he
A lord's lady's dead, a woman replied
And some called her Lady Nancy
He ordered the grave to be opened forthwith
The shroud to be turned down
And then he's kissed her lily-white lips
And the tears they came pouring down
Lady Nancy she died as it might be today
Lord Lovell he died tomorrow
Lady Nancy she died of pure, pure grief
Lord Lovell he died of sorrow
Lady Nancy was buried in St. Clement's churchyard
Lord Lovell was laid down beside her
And out of her breast there grew a red rose
And out of his backbone a brier
They grew and they grew on the old church tower
Until they couldn't grow any higher
And there they tied in a true lover's know
For all true lover's to admire
|
||||
5. |
Scarborough Faire
03:32
|
|||
|
Are you going to Scarborough Faire?
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
Remember me to the one who lives there
For she was once a true love of mine
Tell her to make me a cambric shirt
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
Without no seams, nor fancy work
For then she'll be a true love of mine
Tell him to find me an acre of land
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
Between the salt water and the sea strand
For then he'll be a true love of mine
Tell her to wash it in yonder dry well
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
Where water ne'er sprung, nor drop of rain fell
For then she'll be a true love of mine
Tell him to plow it with a lamb's horn
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
And sow it all over with one peppercorn
For then he'll be a true love of mine
Tell him to reap it with a sickle of leather
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
And tie it all up with a peacock feather
For then he'll be a true love of mine
Tell her to dry it on yonder thorn
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
Which never bore blossom since Adam was born
For then she'll be a true love of mine
When he has done and finished his work
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
Then come to me for his cambric shirt
For then he'll be a true love of mine
|
||||
6. |
||||
|
I long to feel the gentle breeze caress my downy cheek
And hear the twining songs of birds, the trickle of a creek
To watch the rays of sunlight as they filter through the leaves
And see the clouds drift slowly by, through partings in the trees
I would repose in nature's arms upon the fertile loam
Pursue my thoughts at leisure's pace, wherever they may roam
Keep company with bird and beast, who, though they growl and cry
Won't mind me if I sit in quiet, ask from me no reply
But this is not my lot for now, four walls do halt my gaze
And brick, cement, and murdered trees part me from the sun's rays
This prison man has made for man, if he would earn his bread
To be cut off from life outside, entombed long ere he's dead
|
||||
7. |
Seasons
02:36
|
|||
|
Leaves are falling, another year's end
Where has the time gone, where is my life?
My friends have gone on to lands far away
And I'll not see them for many a day
Winds are blowing, it's getting so cold
I'm feeling listless, useless and old
Where is the fair one who brightened my life?
She is long gone now, another man's wife
The birds are singing, got work for my hands
I've got some projects, I'm making new plans
Met a young woman, I've made some new friends
Life's looking up now, the joy never ends
The sun is shining, my life is a blur
Doing so much now, my mind's in a whirl
Another late night out with the guys
Another evening seeking love in her eyes
|
||||
8. |
Little Katie
05:22
|
|||
|
At court a serving maiden was little Katie fair
She shone amongst all maidens, a star of virtue rare
As she amongst all maidens, the fairest was to see
The young king came to Katie, and softly whispered he
"Come listen, little Katie, if thou shalt now be mine
Grey horse and golden saddle shall be directly thine"
"Grey horse and golden saddle are far too grand for me
Go to thy young queen give them, let mine but honor be"
"Come listen, little Katie, if thou shalt now be mine
A crown of gold the finest shall be directly thine"
"A crown of gold the finest is far too grand for me
Go to thy young queen give it, let mine but honor be"
"Come listen, little Katie, if thou shalt now be mine
The half of all my kingdom shall be directly thine"
"The half of all thy kingdom is far too grand for me
Go to thy young queen give it, let mine but honor be"
"Come listen, little Katie, if thou dost me deny
Then in the spiked barrel thou shalt be doomed to die"
"If in the spiked barrel I'm doomed to die by thee
The angels bright in heaven shall know from guilt I'm free"
Then in the spiked barrel they forced the gentle maid
To roll it round and round then the king his servants bade
From heaven to her descended two doves of spotless white
Then three pure doves soared upwards into the realms of light
|
||||
9. |
The Lost Way
02:16
|
|||
|
There's a world out there that I long to see
There's a road that is hiding behind each and every tree
I shall choose the path that's been untrod long
That will lead me to lands no more remembered but in song
I shall seek advice in the ways of mice
I shall heed the words of the trilling birds
I shall be led on by the dead bard's song
I shall seek the world that has long been lost,
Where spring flowers bloom while our world is deep in frost
There's a maid out there of which I've heard sung
Who's got eyes like stars, golden tresses like the sun
It was she who taught all the birds to sing
And she comprehends the ways and speech of every living thing
I shall seek advice in the ways of mice
I shall heed the words of the trilling birds
I shall be led on by the dead bard's song
I shall seek the world that has long been lost,
Where spring flowers bloom while our world is deep in frost
Now the legends say that no mortal man
Shall return to our own world once he's set foot in this land
And the Lady's grace holds my fate for me
For 'tis said that her kiss brings death or immortality
I shall seek advice in the ways of mice
I shall heed the words of the trilling birds
I shall be led on by the dead bard's song
I shall seek the world that has long been lost,
Where spring flowers bloom while our world is deep in frost
|
||||
10. |
To The Distant Beloved
03:58
|
|||
|
Next time you hear the sparrow, pay heed unto his song
I begged of him that he would sing my love to you
I strode into the east wind with my arms open wide
For many miles it blows to bring you my embrace
Though the miles stretch long between us
My heart won't be hindered by them
I will call on all of nature
To deliver my love to you
I held my face to the sun until my lips did burn
So that next morning's rays could give my kiss to you
I took my tears of sorrow and cast them to the sky
In hope the clouds would catch and rain my love on you
Though the miles stretch long between us
My heart won't be hindered by them
I will call on all of nature
To deliver my love to you
I set my sights on the stars that shine on all the world
So in your night they could look on you with my love
|
||||
11. |
||||
Matt Schwarz Bridgewater Township, New Jersey
Matthew H Schwarz moves between (and combines) the musical genres of classical, progressive rock, traditional and original folk, and heavy metal. His main instruments are guitar, harp, and flute. Sheet music can be found at www.sheetmusicplus.com/publishers/matthew-h-schwarz-sheet-music/3006990. ... more
If you like Matt Schwarz, you may also like:
Thinking of Blue Almonds Part One
by Lou Lyne & the Blue Almond Project
Somber, beautiful string meditations abound on the debut album by Oxford cellist and composer Lou Lyne and her ensemble.
go to album
A gorgeous project that explores the intersections of neoclassicism, folk, ambient and electronic textures.
go to album
Conversations in Ritual
by Balladeste
This new album from the contemporary classical duo was completely improvised.
go to album
Helsinki, Finland-based ensemble trace the musical lineage of Scandinavian folk from the middle ages to today.
go to album
Evergreen
by Caroline Shaw & Attacca Quartet
Rapturous compositions for violin that draw on the sounds of early music and folk as well as neo-classical.
go to album
Orange
by Caroline Shaw & Attacca Quartet
Composed for the traditional string quartet format, Shaw's latest is an ode to the “extraordinary” fruit.
go to album
Where are the Arms
by Gabriel Kahane
Gabriel Kahane is often compared to Sufjan Stevens and Rufus Wainwright (both of whom he’s collaborated with in the past). It’s a lot to live up to, but to that already high bar I’ll add Ben Folds and Randy Newman, if only for Kahane’s similar sense of musical theatre, playful storytelling and ability to set … Continue reading Album of the Week: Where are the Arms →
go to album
