A Song to Brigid

When I stood on Wearyall Hill in Glastonbury last September with a group of sister pilgrims, Mara Freeman, our guide, asked if any of us knew any songs to Brigid, since we were honoring Her there. This tune, "Brigid Upon the Highland," and the first two lines immediately came to my mind (we were, after all, on a highland), but I couldn't remember the rest of it.

The tune is based on an old Irish song called "Bridget O'Malley." (If you search for it on iTunes, you'll find many versions.) The lyrics are poignant but very sad, as the singer mourns a lost love. My friend Helen Farias, who died in September 1994, rewrote the lyrics to transform it into a devotional song to the Goddess.

We published the lyrics and sheet music to the song in the Summer/Autumn 1994 issue (Issue 5) of The Beltane Papers. (Helen was the founder and editor of TBP and this was the last issue she worked on.) She wrote: "In the traditional song, a lover laments the loss of his sweetheart, but in this version, the Pagan strolling on the shore at moonrise invokes Brigit Herself, seen in moon and hawthorn flower and especially in the stars above: the bright eyes of my Darling are ever on me."

Oh Brigid upon the Highland, 'tis You've left my heart shaken
With a joyous adoration, as before You I stand
Oh, 'tis wonders of admiration Your quiet face has taken
And Your beauty can awaken the Ones of the Golden Land.

Oh, the white moon above the pale sands, the pale stars above the thorn tree
Are cold beside my darling, but no purer than She
I gaze upon the cold moon till the stars drown in the warm seas
And the bright eyes of my Darling are ever on me.

Nothing brings me into Brigid's presence more powerfully than singing this song.

Thank you, Helen.

*****
Update, 2.2.06:
I asked Craig to record a version of the song so I could sing along with it. Well, Brigid Herself lit him up with the fires of inspiration, and not only did he record it for me, he wrote two more verses and came up with a plan to write devotional songs for each of the Eight Sabbats.

We are most happy to share the song with you. Click here to download an MP3 of Craig's version of "Brigid Upon the Highland." 3.24 minutes, 6.2 MB.

It's so nice to be married to a musician.

Comments

[JulieZS]

Just lovely, the post and the song. Thank you for sharing both Joanna and Craig.

[Julie in Virginia]

It is with gratitude that I am wandering slowly through your archives here. What an incredible piece of music and a lovely tribute to Brigit. Many thanks and wild blessings to you and Craig.

[Laura]

That's lovely, thank you both for sharing.

[Deb in Denver]

This is beautiful, and perfect for the Imbolc rit I am planning! Thank you.