Story Behind The Song

Scotland clearances - Scotland people were forced to go to the new world to survive and Queen Mary escapes Leven Castle going to her cousin Elizabeth the 1st.

Song Description

An original poem put to song.

Lyrics

My men lie bleeding on the lands, or gone from me.
my child sleeps quiet in his bed
just a babe, in his lost father's home, alone.
Who will guide him, who will teach him?
If I'm dead and gone?
A curragh slides across dark waters
my head hidden in a mere maid's cloak.
Stars twinkle in the loch;
below me, a blanket, spangled specks of silver,
Of forever-Ness, slides beneath my boat.
I sleep restlessly, and dream;
I see:
The heather's dying on the hillside
the gorse is fading by the sea
the wind runs whisperin' thru the Ochils
and hums a weary Leven song to me.
My nights are bare and lonely
a lover fl ed, a battle lost, at what cost?
My God is sinking in the bloody loam.
In the gloaming sky of home..
I cry, I fade, and I seek refuge in a new York,
if I meet death let it be quick and kind. A beam
of soft, welcoming light, a kirtle of black, laced with scarlet.
Water ripples a melody laced with fear,
but a harmony of hope.
I sleep restlessly, and dream;
I see:
The heather's dying on the hillside
the gorse is fading by the sea
The wind runs whisperin' thru the Ochils
and hums a weary leavin' song to me
Oh, Mary I am leaving too, my boat slides onto sand
In the moonlight, horses breath, like mist, falls upon my hand.
The scents, the sounds of Scotland fi ll me, hold me:
The smell of wet stones, the muirs, the sea
I breath deeply of her, hear her, see her,
I sleep restlessly and dream;
I see:
The heather's dying on the hillside
the gorse is fading by the sea
the wind slips whisperin' thru the Ochils
and hums a long-lost Leven song to me.
My Leven, my place; my me.
And then I go
I sleep restlessly and dream
I sleep restlessly and dream
I seeeeeeeeee:
Lyrics: Susan Murray
Music: Joe Podlesny
Lead vocal: Delta Burnett Reed
Back up vocal: Joe Podlesny