Lament (Away, Away...)

Wyndreth Berginsdottir

lyrics/tune copyright 1998-- Karen Kahan

I made my love a close-wove cloak
to keep him from the cold.
Lined it was with foxes' fur
and 'broidered 'round with gold.

Chorus: Away, Away, Away...
My love's away across the sea...

I sewed my love a silken sark
as handsome near as he
and I sewed it all with stitches fine
as is my love to me.

Chorus

I fetched my love his cold grey blade
and bringed his ash-haft spear
and I begged his byrnie of close-wrought rings
to guard his life tae me sae dear.

Chorus

I watched the drakkar setting sail,
the whale-way rough and deep,
and I bit my lip till it brightly bled
but he never did see me weep.

Chorus

And now I lay me down to sleep
my bed both warm and wide
and none there is save the cold, cold wind
to stretch down by my side...

Chorus x2

Wyndreth's note... I wrote this in the shower, I think, one morning as I was thinking about what a Viking-Age Norsewoman's version of the Border Widow's lament would be like. What would have been worse--working so hard to send him off in finery and with no misgivings, knowing all the while you may never see him again and/or find out what happened to him; or the day-to-day living with the very real loneliness of his absence? Either way, it makes for a sad song...

The tune here is my adaptation of a rare tune for "Barb'ry Alan".

This page maintained by Cerian Cantwr, cerian@minstrel.com.