A paean to summer inspired by medieval folk song. The pagan custom of bonfires & ‘Maying’ is alluded to. Spring & midsummer also included water rituals, very few of which survive. Collecting dew on the morning of May 1st or midsummer morn is one of the few surviving customs celebrating the folk correspondence between the sun (fire) and water.
lyrics
Sing bird sing, sing bird sing
Sing bird summering
Through the mead
Sing bird sing, sing bird sing
Sing of buds
And birch branch green
Sing bird sing, sing bird sing
Sylvan twilight
Garlands, crowns
Deck the village with
Verdant boughs
Sunrise swim, river sings
Rise up, sun beam
Waters shine
Rise up sun, rise up sun
Glitter gold
And purify
Summertime, summertime
Comes the dusk
When bonfires blaze
Round the fire
And leap the flames
Leap the flames, leap the flames
credits
from To Speed The Plough,
released August 31, 2015
Words & music by Ric Kemper.
This debut from the Melbourne-based folk-rock band tackles environmental issues, self-determination, and relationships. Bandcamp New & Notable May 26, 2023
The long-awaited new record from Woods feels like a stereophonic dream full of whimsical instrumentation and good vibes. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 5, 2020