The cult of the Virgin Mary was extremely popular and prevalent in Britain before the 16th century, until the Reformation practically abolished it. Many wild flower names probably recall this fact, for example: lady’s slipper, lady’s bedstraw, marigold (Mary’s gold), queen of the meadow (meadowsweet) & so on. This suggests to me also that the Marian cult stood in for the various goddess cults which had existed in pre-Christian Britain.
lyrics
Lady the fields flower filled
The sky thronged with song
And scented the air
Scented the air
Lady the verge & the way
With blossom adorned
Bright petals everywhere
Petals everywhere
Lady the river runs bright
And spangles the sun
Reflected in the flow
Reflected in the flow
Lady my eyes fill with tears
My prayers to thee go
Your grace to bestow
Grace to bestow
credits
from To Speed The Plough,
released August 31, 2015
Words & music by Ric Kemper.
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