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Heather Dale - Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

from Songs of the Northern Tribes by Gaia Gathering

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about

Heather Dale is counted among today's premier filk artists. An eclectic Pagan, her music is a fixture of Renaissance faires, medievalist gatherings, and the North American Pagan festival circuit. It has also been featured in numerous films. She lives a gypsy's existence most of the year but Toronto, ON is where she calls home. Website: heatherdale.com Bandcamp: heatherdale.bandcamp.com

lyrics

New year's day,
Dawning wet on Britain's shore
King's hall roused by a pounding on the door.
A giant knight, dressed in green, never seen before
Hefts an axe and holds it high and lets a challenge roar:
'You craven men may fear dishonour, but you fear my vengeance more.'

'That's fear that chills you like a wraith
And it's doubt you gird about your waist
It's rare the man who'll hold to faith
And face me in the morning.'

Sir Gawain:
Pagan Prince of Northern Isles
Shouted, 'Shame on you Brothers, on your silence.'
Took the axe and struck his blow, brought the giant low
Raised his head and held it high and met the giant's eye
And cried, 'I'll meet your vengeance in a year and we'll see who will die...you or I.'

'That's fear that chills you like a wraith
And it's doubt you gird about your waist
It's rare the man who'll hold to faith
And face me in the morning.'

Summmer gone
And Gawain leaves upon his quest
Five point star, a sign of faith upon his chest.
Seeks his foe, travels West, not knowing where to go
No clue until a baroness has promised aid to show
But only if he stay as guest within a vow of three days, no less.

'That's fear that chills you like a wraith
And it's doubt you gird about your waist
It's rare the man who'll hold to faith
And face me in the morning.'

She plays the maid
But vain the baroness' hope
Gawain's not swayed, another lady holds his oath.
She offers body, offers land but each advance is spurned.
She puts a belt into his hand, a gift of magic earned
By constancy in the face of all temptation, to his given word.

'That's fear that chills you like a wraith
But hope you gird about you waist
It's rare the man who'll hold to faith
And face me in the morning.'

New year's day,
Dawning wet on Britain's shore
Gawain meets the same green knight once more.
A man who laughs and gives his hand instead of charance fee
Gawain at last percieves his God and bends a reverent knee
'Take and wear my lady's belt,' the green man gladly cries,
'And see to it you serve as well in all the paths of life.'

'Be constant and be faithful
Wear that belt for all to see
That a man came here for justice
And he left here blessed by me
Left here blessed by me
Left here blessed by me...'

credits

from Songs of the Northern Tribes, released May 17, 2015
From the album The Green Knight (2009).

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about

Gaia Gathering

By invitation, thirteen Pagan artists have come together to create an anthology of some of the best in Canadian Pagan music and spoken word performance. The artists featured in this collection span the length and breadth of this vast nation, representing many different genres of music and many differing Pagan traditions, reflecting the staggering diversity of these, our Northern Tribes. ... more

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