The Bonny Swans - Mckennitt Loreena



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



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