Linda Connell Studley: Music
Faerie Hill
Inspired by an old song titled "The Sister's Lament" about a girl who hears her sister singing from under a faerie hill of how she was spirited away by the faeries.
My sister was the boldest lass I have ever known
She ne’er would list’ when she was told where to and not to go
She feared not dark nor misty moor nor midnight’s icy chill
And she knew the fairest flowers grew upon the faerie hill
Oh sister dear, I gravely fear if you must be so wild
Before the morning dawns again I’ll be an only child
The faerie hill is haunted so the village women say
And those who venture near to it are oft times swept away
To serve the faerie king himself and never to return
They shake their heads and wonder why the young ones never learn
Oh sister mine, be not so blind I fear so for your life
Before the morning dawns again you’ll be a faerie’s wife
She would not be forestalled by me, she would not be denied
To brave what was forbidden was to her a source of pride
“I’ll dance upon the hill” she laughed “and bathe my face in dew
I’ll pick the fairest flower and I’ll bring it home to you.”
Oh sister stay, you act so fey, I know this is goodbye
Step not upon the faerie hill, there’s worse things than to die
When I awoke next morning to the sun upon my face
My sister was not sleeping in her accustomed place
I looked up to the window and there upon the sill
Lay the fairest flower off the haunted faerie hill
Upon my heart there fell a dread as dark as any cloud
I climbed upon the faerie hill and cursed the king aloud
The faerie king appeared to me as if by spell invoked
He smiled with some bemusement until at length he spoke
Your sister had no faith in us, to her we were not real
She’s gone upon her careless way, ‘tis your heart we would steal
And when you pass the faerie hill and when the wind blows cold
You’ll oft time hear me singing to the fairy king below
Oh sister please come back for me, oh, thoughtless, willful child
I’m lost upon the faerie hill, enchanted and beguiled