Lyrics

STOLEN CHILD
Lyrics by William Butler Yeats
Music by Heather Alexander


Where dips the rocky highland
Of Sleuthwood-in-the-lake
There lies a leafy island
Where flapping herons wake
The drowsy water rats,
There we've hid our faerie vats
Full of berries, and of reddest stolen cherries!

COME AWAY, HUMAN CHILD!
TO THE WOODS AND WATERS WILD!
WITH A FAERIE HAND IN HAND
FOR THE WORLD'S MORE FULL OF WEEPING
THAN YOU CAN UNDERSTAND

Where the wave of moonlight glosses
The dim grey sands with light
Far off by furthest Rosses
We foot it all the night
Weaving olden dances,
Mingling hands and mingling glances
Till the moon has taken flight!
Two and fro we leap!
And chase the frothy bubbles
While the world is full of troubles
And is anxious in it's sleep!

Where the wandering water gushes
From the hills above Glen Carr
In pools among the rushes
That scarce can bathe a star
We seek for slumbering trout
And whispering in their ears
Give them evil dreams!
Leaning softly out
From ferns that drop their tears
Of dew on the young streams!

Away with us, he's going
The solemn eyed
He'll hear no more the lowing
Of the calves on the warm hillside
Or the kettle on the hob
Sing peace unto his breast
Or see the brown mice bob
Round and round the oatmeal chest!

FOR HE COMES, HUMAN CHILD!
TO THE WOODS AND WATERS WILD!
WITH A FAERIE HAND IN HAND
FOR THE WORLD'S MORE FULL OF WEEPING
THAN HE CAN UNDERSTAND

Sea Fire Productions Inc/Creaturae Magicus LLC c&p 1994, 2009