I love this song. I think it's one of Stan's best songs. I think the live one is more spirited than the studio version. Tragic that he was taken from us so young
I first discovered Archie Fisher from Stan's cover of The Witch of the Westmorland on this album. We are looking forward to seeing Archie again in a couple of weeks at Celtic Colours in Cape Breton
Pale was the wounded knight That bore the rowan shield Loud and cruel were the raven's cries As he feasted on the field Saying, "Beck water cold and clear Will never clean your wound There's none but the witch of the Westmoreland Can make thee hale and sound "So turn, turn your stallion's head Till his red mane flies in the wind And the rider of the moon goes by And the bright star falls behind" And clear was the paley moon When shadow passed him by Below the hill were the brightest stars When he heard the owlet cry, Saying, "Why do you ride this way And wherefore came you here?" "I seek the witch of the Westmoreland Who dwells by the winding mere" And it's weary by the Ullswater And the misty brakefern way Till through the cleft of the Kirkstane pass The winding water lay He said, "Lie down my brindled hound And rest ye my good gray hawk And thee my steed may graze thy fill For I must dismount and walk "But come when you hear my horn And answer swift the call For I fear ere the sun will rise this morn Ye will serve me best of all" And it's down to the water's brim He's borne the rowan shield And the goldenrod he has cast in To see what the lake might yield And wet rose she from the lake And fast and fleet went she One half the form of a maiden fair With a jet-black mare's body And loud long and shrill he blew Till his steed was by his side High overhead the gray hawk flew And swiftly he did ride Saying, "Course well, me brindled hound And fetch me the jet-black mare Stoop and strike, me good gray hawk And bring me the maiden fair" She said, "Pray sheathe thy silvery sword Lay down thy rowan shield For I see by the briny blood that flows You've been wounded in the field" And she stood in a gown of a velvet blue Bound round with a silver chain And she's kissed his pale lips once and twice And three times round again And she's bound his wounds with the goldenrod Full fast in her arms he lay And he has risen hale and sound With the sun high in the day She said, "Ride with your brindled hound at heel And your good gray hawk in hand There's none can harm the knight who's lain With the Witch of the Westmoreland"
My father was working that night at YHZ when he got the worst news ever HOWEVER i got all of stans records that he released before he died except for the family and. From fresh water
What was it that took Archie's great song to those heights... just asking but I know...Stan Rogers voice. Garnet and the rest were magnificent. What I don't know and would like to know is who played lead guitar on this...fantastic!
Paul Mills (aka Curly Boy Stubbs) played guitar and produced this album along with most of Stan's other records. I had the pleasure of working with Paul in 2010 on our album Sweet Transitions. Sadly, my singing partner Robbie has joined Stan in the great beyond.
I love this song. It's magical.
Stan left this earth for rock and roll heaven too early. Be it a cover or a Rodgers original he knew how to make every single song uniquely his own
Real music, Brilliant!!!
In my saddest and happiest times, must hear Stan and friends
I love this song. I think it's one of Stan's best songs. I think the live one is more spirited than the studio version. Tragic that he was taken from us so young
Epic cover. I keep coming back.
The genius that is Stan Rogers
He was a damn good singer. Shame he died when he did.
I first discovered Archie Fisher from Stan's cover of The Witch of the Westmorland on this album. We are looking forward to seeing Archie again in a couple of weeks at Celtic Colours in Cape Breton
Pale was the wounded knight
That bore the rowan shield
Loud and cruel were the raven's cries
As he feasted on the field
Saying, "Beck water cold and clear
Will never clean your wound
There's none but the witch of the Westmoreland
Can make thee hale and sound
"So turn, turn your stallion's head
Till his red mane flies in the wind
And the rider of the moon goes by
And the bright star falls behind"
And clear was the paley moon
When shadow passed him by
Below the hill were the brightest stars
When he heard the owlet cry,
Saying, "Why do you ride this way
And wherefore came you here?"
"I seek the witch of the Westmoreland
Who dwells by the winding mere"
And it's weary by the Ullswater
And the misty brakefern way
Till through the cleft of the Kirkstane pass
The winding water lay
He said, "Lie down my brindled hound
And rest ye my good gray hawk
And thee my steed may graze thy fill
For I must dismount and walk
"But come when you hear my horn
And answer swift the call
For I fear ere the sun will rise this morn
Ye will serve me best of all"
And it's down to the water's brim
He's borne the rowan shield
And the goldenrod he has cast in
To see what the lake might yield
And wet rose she from the lake
And fast and fleet went she
One half the form of a maiden fair
With a jet-black mare's body
And loud long and shrill he blew
Till his steed was by his side
High overhead the gray hawk flew
And swiftly he did ride
Saying, "Course well, me brindled hound
And fetch me the jet-black mare
Stoop and strike, me good gray hawk
And bring me the maiden fair"
She said, "Pray sheathe thy silvery sword
Lay down thy rowan shield
For I see by the briny blood that flows
You've been wounded in the field"
And she stood in a gown of a velvet blue
Bound round with a silver chain
And she's kissed his pale lips once and twice
And three times round again
And she's bound his wounds with the goldenrod
Full fast in her arms he lay
And he has risen hale and sound
With the sun high in the day
She said, "Ride with your brindled hound at heel
And your good gray hawk in hand
There's none can harm the knight who's lain
With the Witch of the Westmoreland"
Wow, this is powerful text combined with genius delivery. Cheers from Vancouver!
inspired lyrics. What a wonderful song!
Thank you for the lyrics from The Midwest!
Soul sending!
thanx for this treasure trove of non-GMO, Maritime Hometown food for the soul.still makes me hair stand on end;-), oh to be back in Halfway Cove, N.S.
Bet you're entertaining them Stan, we sure miss you here.
The best earworm ever.
Always think of this song when I see a "brindle hound" ....
Stan Rogers Was 33 Years Old, When He Died on June 2, 1983 At the Time!!!
Pure Genius indeed
That awkward moment when you realize the cover is better than the original...
Archie's sure a treasure, but as you suggest, the passion of this delivery and the genius of the arrangment are all the Stan you need to know.
An inspired violin part by Garnet.
My father was working that night at YHZ when he got the worst news ever HOWEVER i got all of stans records that he released before he died except for the family and. From fresh water
Yeee Hooo!
What was it that took Archie's great song to those heights... just asking but I know...Stan Rogers voice. Garnet and the rest were magnificent. What I don't know and would like to know is who played lead guitar on this...fantastic!
Paul Mills (aka Curly Boy Stubbs) played guitar and produced this album along with most of Stan's other records. I had the pleasure of working with Paul in 2010 on our album Sweet Transitions. Sadly, my singing partner Robbie has joined Stan in the great beyond.
Garnet smokes on this...
While I absolutely LOVE Stan's take, I prefer the full Archie Fisher lyrics. Stand cuts too many of the verses, kinda gimps the overall story
The best version of this song, and the song is just fantastic. The Scottish original is good, but this whole band is just terric.