Here I set out to write a song exploring the depth of folklore surrounding the ‘lady of the lake’—the water Goddess—the sovereign Goddess; tied to the fate of the Kingdom. She is well known from the story of King Arthur, but has Her place across various traditions. I’ve long been attracted to the study of comparative mythology, and the search for perennial truths.
With both the lyrics and music I wanted to create a foreboding sense of this powerful, unforgiving woman who is an ancient force of nature yet conscious and well-meaning. The words were carefully chosen, to convey spiritual and philosophical ideas that I’ve found in my studies; such as the turbulent, creative nature of the Lagu rune, the depiction of mankind’s laws as layers of experience built up within a metaphysical well, and the closeness of the Barnstokkr Tree in Völsunga Saga to the ‘Sword in the Stone’ from contemporary Arthurian lore.
lyrics
Through the myst,
There I sawe,
Her blacke robe
Lapynge at the shor.
Schale and shene,
Wrought by time,
Stille unwav‘ryng,
Stedy in Her ryme.
...and at daune She’l fynde Her kyng.
Lady Lawe,
Laine so depe.
Maye our gifts fall
softly to Her keep.
Ur and Ise,
Lagu ryse,
For an erthely kyng
’Neath Godly eyes.
...and at daune She’ll fynde Her...
Sword in sheathe,
Brand in Oake.
Where our Nied burns,
There, Her fyre is woke.
...and at daune She’l fynde Her kyng.
Do we owe kyng, erthe, or kyn?
Or to Her do we all (sing)?