May 2021 The Ballad of the May

The Ballad of the May

This is my only 'Fairy story' though it would be better to use the 'Faerie' spelling because these little folk are serious people.

This story begins with my Irish friend, Paddy, setting me straight on that score, and explaining that a tune called 'The King of the Faeries' that we had been playing has some magical and slightly sinister connections;---I still can't remember when or where I learned the mysterious third section.

The story Paddy then told me about the 'King of the Faeries' is the one I told here, and I related it to a poem by Agatha Christie (words below) which has been set to music by my good friend Paul Jefferies. Many thanks to all three of them.

The King he went a’ walking all in the month of May

The King he laid him down to rest and fell asleep they say

And when he woke ‘twas evening time, the hour of magic mood

And bluebell, wild bluebell was dancing in the wood.

 

The King he gave a banquet to all the flowers save one

With hungry eyes he watched them seeking one alone

The rose was there in satin, the lily with green hood

But bluebell, wild bluebell only dances in the wood.

 

The King he frowned in anger, his hand upon his sword

He sent his men to seize her and bring her to their Lord

With silken cords they bound her, before the King she stood

Bluebell, wild bluebell, who dances in the wood.

 

The King he rose to greet her, this maid he’d sworn to wed

The King he took his golden crown and set it on her head

But then he saw and shivered; the courtiers gazed in fear

At bluebell, pale bluebell, so gray and ghostly there.

 

O King your crown is heavy it bows my head with care

Your palace walls would shut me in, who live as free as air

The Wind he is my lover, the rain my lover too

And bluebell, wild bluebell can ne’er be Queen for you.

 

The King he mourned for twelve long months and none could ease his pain

The King he went a’ walking down solitary lane

He laid aside his golden crown, into the woods went he

Where bluebell, wild bluebell dances ever wild and free.


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