The Witch Of The Westmorland

From: Barrie McCombs 

THE WITCH OF THE WESTMORLAND  Time: 2/4  Tenor: C  Bass: C
- Archie Fisher, 198?
- Record: Stan Rogers, Between The Breaks


1    *       *       4      *       1        *     6m7     *
Pale was the wounded knight___ that bore the rowan shield
1        *              57      6m         4       *      5      *
Loud and cruel were the raven’s cries that feasted on the field
        1    *      *        4     *        1     *          6m7    *
Saying: beck water, cold and clear___, will never clean your wound
        1            *            57      6m       4         *        5      *
There’s none but the Witch of the Westmor-land can make thee hale and sound

   1     *         *          4    *            1        *            6m7   *
So turn, turn your stallion’s head___, till his red mane flies in the wind
        1     *      57        6m         4           *        5     *
And the rider of the moon goes by and the bright star falls be-hind
    1     *       *     4    *            1      *          6m7   *
And clear was the paley moon___, when his shadow passed him by
   1       *              57        6m            4         *     5    *
Be-low the hills were the brightest stars when he heard the owlet cry

        1   *      *         4   *       1         *        6m7    *
Saying: Why do you ride this way___, and wherefore came you here
  1        *            57      6m        4             *       5     *
I seek the Witch of the Westmor-land, who dwells by the winding mere
         1     *      *    4     *          1     *          6m7   *
And it’s weary by the Ulls-water___ and the misty brake fern way
     1           *            57        6m        4       *     5    *
Till through the cleft of the Kirkstane Pass, the winding water lay

         1   *        *        4     *       1           *         6m7   *
He said: Lie down, my brindled hound___, and rest ye, my good grey hawk
    1        *          57       6m          4         *         5     *
And thee, my steed, may graze thy fill, for I must dis-mount and walk
    1    *        *       4    *       1      *         6m7   *
But come when you hear my horn___, and answer swift the call
      1            *        57        6m           4        *       5   *
For I fear ere the sun will rise this morn ye will serve me best of all

         1    *      *       4    *        1        *     6m7     *
And it’s down to the water’s brim___, he’s born the rowan shield
        1      *      57       6m     4            *          5      *
And the golden-rod he has cast in, to see what the lake might yield
    1   *        *        4    *       1        *          6m7   *
And wet rose she from the lake___, and fast and fleet went she
    1        *         57     6m          4         *         5   *
One half the form of a maiden fair with a jet black mare’s bo-dy


CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO


NOTES:
- Timing: 2/4 avoids original mixed time (4/4 & 2/4)
- Rogers: Tuning: DADGAG,  Play G (capo 5 = C)

THE WITCH OF THE WESTMORLAND    PAGE TWO


    1     *        *         4    *           1         *      6m7   *
And loud, long and shrill he blew___ till his steed was by his side
     1    *        57        6m       4       *      5     *
High over-head the grey hawk flew and swiftly he did ride
        1      *        *        4     *       1            *         6m7   *
Saying: Course well, my brindled hound___, and fetch me the jet black mare
1         *          57        6m        4            *      5     *
Stoop and strike, my good grey hawk, and bring me the maiden fair


          1     *           *       4     *        1        *     6m7     *
She said: Pray, sheathe thy silvery sword___.  Lay down thy rowan shield
      1          *     57         6m                 4       *      5      *
For I see by the briny blood that flows, you’ve been wounded in the field
        1          *       *      4    *         1            *      6m7    *
And she stood in a gown of velvet blue___, bound round with a silver chain
          1          *         57      6m         4           *       5     *
And she’s kissed his pale lips one and twice, and three times round a-gain


          1         *               *      4   *        1           *       6m7  *
And she’s bound his wounds with the golden-rod___, full fast in her arms he lay
    1      *     57       6m             4        *      5     *
and he has risen hale and sound with the sun high in the day
          1              *        *        4    *            1         *       6m7  *
She said: Ride with your brindled hound at heel__, and your good grey hawk in hand
        1        *        57           6m            4            *       5    *  (1)
There’s none can harm the knight who’s lain with the Witch of the Westmor-land__

SYMBOLS:
- Asterisk (*) =  new measure, play same chord
- Period (.)   =  1/8 note rest at start of a measure
- Underline(_) =  sustain note into next measure

CHORDS (Number System):
- Example:     1    2    3    4    5    6    7
- Key of C:    C    D    E    F    G    A    B
- Detailed description: /pub/guitar/other_stuff/numbering_system.txt

- Submitted by:  Barrie McCombs (bmccombs@acs.ucalgary.ca)