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Sorrow's Might

from The Sleepy Hollow Years by Sleepy Hollow

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about

I found this in a century-old book of folk songs of Northern Europe. It's a traditional Swedish song that, lyrically, is a variant of the Cold Blows the Wind/Unquiet Grave song of British tradition. It tells of a woman who mourns her dead lover until his ghost returns to tell her to move on with her life.

Musically, I arranged it in three parts. It starts out as a dirgy, doom-metal song. The middle is a fingerpicked folk arrangement (somewhat inspired by the Pentangle), and it ends as a faster, Iron Maidenish metal song. Although it retains the same chord sequence and melody throughout, I think this keeps it interesting. There's one bit at the end of the folky middle section where I'm playing an ostinato on the harp and Joe improvises an oboe melody on the keyboard. I think it may be the most magical moment of our career.

lyrics

Christina and her mother laid gold upon the bier
(Who plucks the leaves from the lily stem?)
The maiden wept in sorrow -Ah, dead her love so dear
(Ah, ye are bright and joyous ever)

Who now with gentle fingers is knocking at my door?
Christina rise and open unto me I implore!

My hand to none is promised as long as I am free
To no-one I'll give entrance in dead of night to me

Oh rise and open quickly and have of me no fear
Thy love, oh my Christina, is standing waiting here!

He scarce the words had spoken, she stay'd to hear no more
But left her bed then quickly and opened wide the door

Christina drew her lover towards the golden shrine
She knelt and wash'd his feet there, with clear and sparkling wine

Within her little chamber for many hours sate they
And talked of love together till midnight waned away

Ah! Morn's already dawning, Hark, love, the cock doth crow
The time has come, when, dear one, the dead to rest must go

Then drew the maid Christina her shoes upon her feet
And followed through the forest her love with footsteps fleet

At last, within the churchyard, both, hand-in-hand, stood they
His hair so thick and golden had fallen quite away

Christina, love, look yonder, how pure the moon's soft light
She scarce had turned, her lover had vanished from her sight

She sat upon his grave then "here will I stay, oh love"
Till God my woe doth pity and call my soul above

Hark! Loudly, clearly rang then the youth's voice in the air
My only love, I pray thee, ah - sit not weeping there

For every tear of anguish which from thine eye doth start
Sinks in my place of resting and fills with pain my heart

And every joyous moment which banishes thy care
Ah' Fills my lonely coffin with roses sweet and fair!

credits

from The Sleepy Hollow Years, track released October 31, 2010
traditional, arr. Schwarz

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Matt Schwarz image

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

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