Celtic Lyrics Corner > Artists & Groups > Loreena McKennitt > Elemental > Stolen Child

   
Elemental Stolen Child
   
Credits: Loreena McKennitt; lyrics by W. B. Yeats
   
Appears On: Elemental
   
Language: English
   

Lyrics:

Where dips the rocky highland of sleuth wood in the lake
There lies a leafy island where flapping herons wake
The drowsy water rats there we've hid our fairy vats
Full of berries and of reddest stolen cherries

Chorus:
Come away, oh human child
To the waters and the wild
With a faery hand in hand
For the world's more full of weeping
Than you can understand

Where the wave of moonlight glosses the dim grey sands with light
By far off furthest rosses we foot it all the night
Weaving olden dances, mingling hands and mingling glances
'Til the moon has taken flight to and fro we leap
And chase the frothy bubbles whilst the world is full of troubles
And is anxious in its sleep

(Chorus)

Where the wandering water gushes from the hills above glen car
In pools among the rushes that scarce could bathe a star
We seek for slumbering trout and whispering in their ears
Give them unquiet dreams leaning softly out
From ferns that drop their tears over the young streams

(Chorus)

Away with us he's going, the solemned eyed
He'll hear no more the lowing of the calves on the warm hillside
Or the kettle on the hob sing peace unto his breast
Or see the brown mice bob 'round and 'round the oatmeal chest

For he comes, the human child
To the waters and the wild
With a faery hand in hand
For the world's more full of weeping
Than you can understand