Y Mabinogi – The Fourth Branch – Out Now!

The Adventure Concludes…

This is a retelling of the Fourth Branch of Y Mabinogi, the last of four albums that tell The Four Branches.

Pryderi continues to tell his tales…

There has been peace for many years across the seven cantrefs of Dyfed, but peace, as is the way of men, is doomed to fail…

Spellsinger

Verse 1

Silver branch,

Calls to every ear and heart and soul,

Honey-tongue,

Sings the spell your heart has always known.

I will be your guide,

Doors they open wide,

To Otherworlds we’ll fly,

Away.

Verse 2

Awen’s song,

All that was, is, and will ever be,

13 Moons,

The Witch’s son will claim his destiny,

But youth will claim their prize,

On golden wheat he lies,

Consumed, reborn, he shines,

Away.

Chorus

Spellsinger,

Charmweaver,

Spellsinger,

Charmweaver.

Verse 3

Spell is sung,

And the world will be forever changed,

Fire has gone,

Spirits dance in embers that remain,

Home from distant shores,

This time and space once more,

Your soul still yearns to soar,

Away.

Pryderi's Lament

Pryderi’s Lament

Verse 1

Take my hand my darling,

I have come to take you home,

As my birds paint their path across the sky,

I know you’re oh so tired,

Of this battlefield of life,

What will they do when your Sun no longer shines?

Rhiannon Chorus

The time has come

Let my birds guide your way

The dying Sun

Will bring the dawn to another day,

As white horses ride away.

Verse 2

I see the light is fading,

Although the night is far away,

Hold me close, Mother, I feel so very cold,

A hand upon my shoulder,

Father kneeling by my side,

I know it’s time, for a new story to be told.

Pryderi/Rhiannon Chorus

The time has come,

Let your birds guide the way

The dying Sun

Will bring the dawn to another day,

As white horses ride away.

Son of the Waves

Son of the Sea

Verse 1

I stand, on this high cliff

And I look out, see the skiffs

As they are rowing, o’er a boundless sea.

See how, the castle’s turning,

And I feel my heart is yearning,

To just let go, fall, and to be free.

Chorus

I’m the Son of the Sea,

And a wave will not break below me.

I’m the Son of the Sea,

Brother to Land and Sky,

I’m the Son of the Sea,

And a wave will not break below me.

And there in my home,

I feel like I’ll never die.

Verse 2

One step, I am falling,

Then behind me, voices calling,

As the waves break, on the rocks below.

Eyes wide, looking, searching,

Then they see me, from the waves emerging,

And I swim free, to the Great Whale Road.

Verse 3

My joy, salt and spray,

I am laughing, jump and play,

As the seals spin, and gulls call my name,

Then I hear, a sailors’ song,

Then a great spear, fast and long,

Is raised high, ready to take aim.

Three Curses

Verse 1

Turning Castle sacred shore,

Stepping through an oaken door,

To a hallway deep within,

There my Mother slowly spins,

Still her hand, see her stand,

Questioning her brother who I am.

So replies great Gwydion,

This boy before you is your son,

I reject this shame you bring,

The shame is but a tiny thing,

Eyes grow dark, fingers spark,

Curse is sung, and I would not be free,

I decree this destiny,

To never be named unless given by me!

Verse 2

Gwydion he cast a spell,

A ship was formed where seaweed fell,

Our shoes they were beyond compare,

My Mother came to see our wares,

That was when, lands a wren,

A stone it left my hand, strong and true.

For some lowly artisan,

The Fair One has a Steady Hand,

So up speaks great Gwydion,

Sister you have named your son,

Eyes grow dark, fingers spark,

Curse is sung, and I would not be free,

I decree this destiny,

To never have weapons unless given by me!

Verse 3

Years they passed, a boy no more,

Poets came to my Mother’s door,

A phantom army sailing near,

Gwydion told her have no fear,

Our decoy, arm the boy,

And thus she gave me sword and shield.

As the armies they drew near,

All the warriors disappeared,

Then up speaks great Gwydion,

Sister you have armed your son,

Eyes grow dark, fingers spark,

And thus my Mother laid her final curse,

I decree this destiny,

You’ll never have a wife from the race of this Earth!

Lake of the Maidens

Verse 1

Who are you?

All alone, eyes wide with fear,

Running past our shore,

Now we sing,

To your maidens, oh so near,

Our ever-open door.

To be with us forevermore.

Verse 2

Who are you?

Filled with hate, your dark eyes bleed,

With a raging storm.

Now we sing,

From still waters, we will feed,

Lead them to our shore,

To be with us forevermore.

Chorus

Waters black and cold, so the tale is told,

Of the Shades below

(Llyn Morwynion)

Neath a darkened Moon, the Gwragedd Annwn,

Sing their mournful tune

(Llyn Morwynion)

Verse 3

Waters rise,

Voices calling from the dark,

You will breathe no more,

Cold embrace,

Draws you down into the depths,

Your body washed ashore,

Now sing with us forevermore.

Verse 4

All is done,

Waters dark and still once more,

Mountains cold and grey.

We will wait,

Sing our spell forevermore,

Calling to our prey,

As he turns and walks away.

Blodeuwedd

Verse 1

Look into the water, tell me what do you see?
I see a woman of flowers crying out to be free.
I see a Goddess, a woman, in a circle of trees.
I see Math and Gwydion fall to their knees.
Fall to their knees.

Chorus
Welcome the May Queen,
Sing for her now,
For as the year turns to Samhain
She’ll return as an owl,
Blodeuwedd the owl.

Verse 2

Stand alone in the tower, watch over your land.
Hear the call of a hunter, call him into your hands.
He is dark, he is handsome, and the King is away,
Gronw says he must go now, but you ask him to stay,
Ask him to stay.

Verse 3

She can’t live without him, so while the King is away,
They plot to kill him in a year and a day.
With a foot on a cauldron, a goat holds him true.
By a fast running river, came the spear from Gronw,
And the eagle it flew.

Verse 4

My son where are you? For only I see,
An old rotting eagle upon an oak tree.
Come to me young lion and rest this night,
For your wife is a bird now, she will never see light,
Cursed to hunt in the night.