The Bonny Swans Lyrics

October, 1990 - Annaghmakerrig, Ireland...have been striving to create the
pieces and shape of The Visit. Brought various books of lyrics, poetry and
other influences with me: the Unicorn Tapestries, The Golden Bough. Set some
traditional lyrics to music; I am drawn to the harp motif and the essence of a
fable in which a girl, drowned by her jealous sister, returns first as a swan
and then is transformed into a harp...The countryside of County Monaghan would
make an ideal location for a visual interpretation, with its lakes, forests and
rolling countryside.

Octobre 1990 - Annaghmakerrig, Irlande...j'ai travaille a la creation des
oeuvres et a la mise en forme de The Visit. J'ai apporte avec moi des livres de
poemes, de chansons et d'autres sources d'inspiration: la tapisserie de la Dame
a la Licorne, Le Rameau d'or. Mise en musique de chants traditionnels; je suis
attiree par le motif de la harpe et l'essence de la fable ou une jeune fille,
noyee par une soeur jalouse, est d'abord reincarneee en cygne, puis en
harpe...Le paysage du comte de Monaghan, avec ses lacs, ses forets et ses
collines arrondies, serait un cadre parfait pour une interpretation visuelle.

Oktober 1990 - Annaghmakerrig, Irland...habe mich bemueht, Teilstuecke und die
Form von The Visit auszuarbeiten. Brachte verschiedene Buecher ueber Lyrik,
Poesie und andere Einfluesse mit: die Enhorn Gobelins, The Golden Bough. Habe
einige traditionelle Gedichte vertont. Ich fuehle mich hingezogen zu dem
Harfen-Motiv und der Essenz einer Fabel in der ein Maedchen von ihrer Schwester
ertraenkt wird und dann als Schwan wieder erscheint, um am Ende in eine Harfe
verwandelt zu werden...Die Landschaft von Monaghan wuerde einen idealen
Hintergrund fuer eine visuelle Interpretation bilden, mit seinen Seen, Waeldern
und der sanft huegeligen Landschaft.

Octubre de 1990 - Annaghmakerrig, Irlanda...he estado esforzandome por crear
las partes y la forma de The Visit. Me lleve varios libros de textos, poesias y
otras influencias; Los Tapices del Unicornio, La Rama Dorada. He llevado
algunos textos tradicionales a musica; me siento atraida por el motivo de harpa
y la esencia de una fabula en la que una chica, ahogada por su hermana celosa,
vuelve primero en forma de cisne y luego se transforma en un harpa...El campo
de Monaghan seria una localizacion ideal para una interpretacion visual, con
sus lagos, bosques y su sinuoso paisaje.


A farmer there lived in the north country
a hey ho bonny o
And he had daughters one, two, three
The swans swim so bonny o
These daughters they walked by the river's brim
a hey ho bonny o
The eldest pushed the youngest in
The swans swim so bonny o

Oh sister, oh sister, pray lend me your hand
with a hey ho a bonny o
And I will give you house and land
the swans swim so bonny o
I'll give you neither hand nor glove
with a hey ho a bonny o
Unless you give me your own tru love
the swans swim so bonny o

Sometimes she sank, sometimes she swam
with a hey ho and a bonny o
Until she came to a miller's dam
the swans swim so bonny o
The miller's daughter, dressed in red
with a hey ho and a bonny o
She went for some water to make some bread
the swans swim so bonny o

Oh father, oh daddy, here swims a swan
with a hey ho and a bonny o
It's very like a gentle woman
the swans swmi so bonny o
They placed her on the bank to dry
with a hey ho and a bonny o
There came a harper passing by
the swans swim so bonny o

He made harp pins of her fingers fair
with a hey ho and a bonny o
He made harp strings of her golden hair
the swans swim so bonny o
He made a harp of her breast bone
with a hey ho and a bonny o
And straight it began to play alone
the swans swim so bonny o

He brought it to her father's hall
with a hey ho and a bonny o
And there was the court, assembled all
the swans swim so bonny o
He laid the harp upon a stone
with a hey ho and a bonny o
And straight it began to play alone
the swans swim so bonny o

And there does sit my father the King
with a hey ho and a bonny o
And yonder sits my mother the Queen
the swans swim so bonny o
And there does sit my brother Hugh
with a hey ho and a bonny o
And by him William, sweet and true
the swans swim so bonny o
And there does sit my false sister, Anne
with a hey ho and a bonny o
Who drowned me for the sake of a man
the swans swim so bonny o


Traditional lyrics arranged and adapted by L.M.
Music: L.M.
L.M. - keyboards, vocals, accordion
Brian Hughes - guitars, balalaika
George Koller - bass
Donal Lunny - bouzouki, bodhran
Hugh Marsh - fiddle
Anne Bourne - cello
Rick Lazar - percussion
Assistant producer: Donal Lunny