We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

The Mermaid's Lament

by Jess Ward

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      £10 GBP  or more

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Packaged in a card gatefold case with original embroidery artwork by Jess Ward plus lyrics booklet and photographs by Andy Lee

    Includes unlimited streaming of The Mermaid's Lament via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 3 days

      £10 GBP or more 

     

1.
Invocation 03:07
2.
Cowrie Love 03:07
3.
Schottische 02:50
4.
5.
Ravenwing 03:41
Ravenwing, Ravenwing, soft on your face Lights up your beauty in suffering grace Calmly accepting you cast your eyes down And I feel your pain as though it were my own One step, two step, I will hold you One step, two step, God see you through One step, two step, here's what to do One step, two step, just let me hold you And I'm waltzing with you And God will see us through Waltzing with you And God will see us through Ravenwing, Ravenwing, falling so fair On to the warm jewelled colours you wear Glowing like rubies so fiery bold Under your wing lovely flashes of gold One step, two step, I will hold you One step, two step, God see you through One step, two step, here's what to do One step, two step, just let me hold you And I'm waltzing with you And God will see us through Waltzing with you And God will see us through Ravenwing, Ravenwing, poised now for flight Into the rain and the dark of the night With a heart that is sinking and sensing the end Sudden, in sympathy I am your friend And I'm waltzing with you And God will see us through Waltzing with you And God will see us through
6.
3 Leaves 06:19
What did you do to enchant me? Did you take 3 leaves from the old oak tree? Did you take 3 hairs from the billy goat? 3 drops of nectar from the humming bird's throat? Lavender, culeb berries and cloves Tied in the bag with buds of rose Worn on the body and warmed on your skin Until every woman is drawn in Billy - O - Billy - O - Billy - O - Billy Lie with me under the old oak tree Did you draw a circle on the cottage floor? Did you hang sweet thyme up over the door? Did you cover the bed with the yellow primrose? And prick your finger on the briar rose? 3 bright drops of your own red blood 3 white feathers from a turtle dove Powdered patchouli in the mortar stone Pounded together with a wishing bone O - Billy - O - Billy - O - Billy Lie with me under the old oak tree 3 green leaves from the acorn tree You bound me up in love with thee 3 green leaves from the boughs above You bound me up in the arms of love Did you fashion my likeness in a puppet of wax? Did you twine me to you with a length of flax? Did you tie my hair in a plait of reeds? And sprinkle me over with caraway seeds? Oh, what did you do to enchant me? All I can do is think on thee What did you do to enchant me? You took 3 leaves from the green oak tree O - Billy - O - Billy - O - Billy - O - Billy Lie with me under the old oak tree O - Billy - O - Billy - O - Billy - O - Billy Lie with me under the old oak tree
7.
8.
If you only knew What I feel for you And if you only knew How I dream about you Oh you cast your net too wide And missed the treasure caught inside Now I am caffled in the mesh Amongst the seaweed and the fish My hair is twisted in the rope And now you leave me losing hope I'm losing hope, I'm losing hope I'm losing hope, I'm losing hope While you make good with another love One you never even told me of We the fishes in the sea None so completely caught as me Everyone a little hooked With here a word and there a look With every step and every beat You love to flirt you love to cheat Then a rhythm now a touch But none has loved you quite so much Of all the fishes in the sea No one has loved as deep, as deep as me And you missed my beauty fair The gleaming lustre of my hair The shining fire in my eyes The fleshy power of my thighs The silk and supple of my skin The flutter and the beat within The warmth and moisture of my breath The rising, falling of my breast And how you broke the heart inside Because you cast your net too wide Now I am caffled in the mesh Amongst the seaweed and the fish My hair is twisted in the rope And now you leave me losing hope I'm losing hope, I'm losing hope I'm losing hope, I'm losing hope Busy with your earthly love A soft and greyling feathered dove Coo - cooing so gently at your breast In the warm and cosy feathered nest But take warning, pay me heed For I could still a siren be And still enchant you with my song And make her see where you belong How I could lure you to the depths Where all the sunken souls obsess But I have chosen not to speak And I have chosen to be meek And grant you another chance As you take the final dance But if you only knew How I feel about you And if you only knew How I dream about you
9.
There is a heartbroken man Out sailing the weather Doing all that he can To keep it together And it was always his plan To love her and keep her But he's sad and he's scared That he'll lose her forever He is a soft spoken man And he never will shake her Always holding his tongue He does nothing to break her Or make her come back To the earth where she stands All he can do Is hold out his hands He is a hardworking man Out earning a living And when he comes home He just carries on giving His love to the children And his back to the work His hope for some healing And an end to the hurt Of a heartbroken man Doing all that he can He is a longsuffering man And he doesn't deserve it And he can't understand He can only observe it And stand in dismay As she loses her way Waiting all night For the words he can't say And so the heartbroken man Goes out sailing the river Doing all that he can To get through the bad weather And he wants to believe He could always forgive her But he's sad and he's scared That he'll lose her forever
10.
Over & Over 03:24
The heaving sea Drowns over me The lilting swell Rocks me well My body turns over and over My body learns the green underwater She cradles me, curled like a sleeper She quenches me, cooling my fever Nearly consumed, I am Venus' daughter Ocean perfumed, I am washed in saltwater See how I shine Drenched, deep in divine Flame is my keeper Eros my teacher My body turns over and over My body burns, lost in my lover He cradles me, curled like a sleeper He quenches me, cooling my fever My body turns, over and over My body burns, lost in my lover
11.
Longing 03:47
This is where I am supposed to be Here, where I'm with you and you're with me How can such a wonderment be wrong? When my heart knows you're the place where I belong And my body knows the sound, the smell, the feel And my mind knows the impossible is real From the first look, my soul has recognised The star-crossed answer, here, where eyes meet eyes With palms upturned and waiting to be filled My breathing sighs a rising to be stilled Though you hear the breath, you never make the move Are you waiting for me yet my love to prove? Is it God or is it blood that stays my hand? Though my ears roar with the screaming "Make a stand!" And with all that's left undone, you drive away And the night delivers me another day
12.
13.

credits

released September 21, 2014

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Jess Ward Wales, UK

I come from Pembrokeshire in West Wales where I have been lucky to live all my life in a land of crashing waves, rugged cliffs, mirrored pools, twisting oaks, windswept thorn and peeping primrose.
After many years performing and creating with my guitar I have now found my dream instrument in the Celtic lever harp.
I play a Telor model, made at Telynau Teifi, The Harp Centre of Wales in Llandysul.
... more

contact / help

Contact Jess Ward

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Jess Ward, you may also like: