Song, Chant, Poetry, Stories and Satire for the Pagan Community

This entry made: 09/22/1999

Title: Yule Song
Lyrics by: Ian Corrigan
Tune: original (Ian Corrigan)
Date:
Source:
Recorded on: "Starwood Memories," Ian Corrigan (Association for Consciousness Exploration, 1643 Lee Rd #9, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118); "Ian Corrigan, Live at Starwood," Ian Corrigan, ACE.
Subject: Wheel of the Year

When sighing winter falls upon the land, 
and hail and ice are felt in field and hearth, 
and men turn faces downward from the sky, 
the unborn king is sleeping in the earth. 
	The wren sits on his frozen limb. 
	The lady watches over him. 
	She waits for winter's power to dim, 
that she might give him birth. 

In summer high the green man made his dance. 
The arbor grew and he did press the wine. 
He charmed the maiden with his lusty glance, 
but he must be cut down right to the vine. 
	At summer's end the spear was made, 
	who's blow the king could not evade, 
	and stricken by that mighty blade, 
in death did he recline. 

Our lady went unto the lord of death, 
and naked stood before his icy throne. 
Says she, 'Why must all love feel your cold breath, 
all youth and beauty stripped unto white bone'. 
	The king, he laughed and shook his horns, 
	'We only die to be reborn, 
	oh maiden fair, be not forlorn, 
my love is yours alone'. 

Some say our lady knelt beneath the scourge, 
lest she must love the lord of winter's gloom. 
I say she warmed his cold heart like a forge, 
and loved him till life quickened in her womb. 
	In old man winter's deepest dark, 
	their loving struck that oldest spark, 
	and wise ones bid the feeble heart, 
foretells the summer's bloom. 

Now folks do meet upon that darkest night, 
when King Sol's time is short in winter's sky. 
They'll burn the belfires on the barrow's height, 
and bid the spirits of long night to fly. 
	In holy circle do we meet, 
	at yuletide season days are fleet, 
	but 'tis the new sun that we greet, 
who's birth is drawing nigh.