Darren Raleigh: Music

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This one’s always had a very pagan feel for me – a story of someone who lives close to the land and owns nothing but his work. If you’ve ever worked as a Temp, this one’s for you. It’s also for Glen and Katie and their Fairport Convention collection.

I went down to the hiring fair for to sell my labor.
I noticed a girl in the very next row - I hoped she'd be my neighbor.
Then imagine my delight when the farmer picked us both.
Though I spoke not a word on the cart to the farm, my heart beat in my throat.

My lodging was dry and my master fair. I gave him full measure.
But my envy grew like the corn in the field for in his house was my treasure,
I'd watch her carry water, or drive cows from the byre,
And the heat from the sun made the corn grow strong and with it my desire.

I'd see her in my dreaming and in my dreams caress
Her eyes, her lips and her dark brown hair, the curves beneath her dress.
Harvest time it came at length, so heavy was our task
That the women and the men worked side by side and I had her near at last,

I swung harder with my scythe, few words between us passed.
And I cursed my tongue-tied youthfulness and hoped she'd hear my heart.
All was safely gathered in and we sat down to rest.
My trembling fingers touched her arm - she placed them on her breast.

She turned to me as the sun went down and all my senses reeled,
And we lay there on the scented ground while the moon rose over the field.

She was safely gathered in my arms when from the barn
Drifted the sound of the violin and we hurried back to the farm.

All danced in the lantern light and music filled the air.
And I thanked the gods for the harvest moon and the girl from the hiring fair.