'Neath the Willow Tree

Typed out on November 2, 2017 (partially written before)

 

’Neath the Willow Tree

 

(Verse 1)

Far away from the cities and dwellings of man

Is a green hill and atop it the Willow Tree

Alone on the hill is the purest of maidens

With the lovely girl many men wish to be

 

But she wears a veil to keep herself hidden

Any suitor who with her attempts to be

Must answer the riddle: “What wealth can be taken?”

So the fairest of all waits ‘neath the Willow Tree

 

(Bridge)

For she, she is alone

And she, she is the one

The riddle seems never broken

All plans for her eternally undone

 

(Verse 2)

Many a man has ventured this far

All so young with their hopes and dreams

They came to conquer with coins in their jars

They try to find her so young and so lean

 

Many a man comes to lay claim to her

All of them travel through time and space

All of them drawn by some ancient lure

They have all failed and their hearts laid to waste

 

(Bridge)

For she, she is alone

And she, she is the one

The riddle seems never broken

All plans for her eternally undone

 

(Chorus)

The riddle she keeps is not of her making

The riddle she keeps so many must seek

The riddle she keeps is not for the taking

The riddle she keeps   ‘neath  the Willow Tree

 

(Verse 3)

Me, I was once a man much younger

Me, I once had the spirit of youth

For many years and miles and longer

I travelled in search of her secrets removed

 

One day at last I came upon the maiden

I vowed that I was the strongest of all

I attempted with force to have her taken

But the riddle was strong, couldn’t answer the call

 

(Bridge)

For she, she is alone

And she, she is the one

The riddle seems never broken

All plans for her eternally undone

 

(Chorus)

The veil she wears is not on her body

The veil she wears is only in her mind

The veil she wears is not of our world

The veil she wears keeps her secrets inside

 

(Verse 4)

So defeated, I watched, waited, and grew old

Many more came in search of their glory

Many more failed as their steps were too bold

I began to understand her sorrow and worry

 

So, on my deathbed I cease to wonder why

My quest and thoughts turn to contentment and clarity

I finally solved her riddle as I slowly die

Eternally she waits ‘neath the Willow Tree

 

(Bridge)

For she, she is alone

And she, she is the one

The riddle seems never unbroken

All plans for her eternally undone

 

(Chorus)

The veil she wears is not on her body

The veil she wears is only in her mind

The veil she wears is not of our world

The veil she wears keeps her secrets inside

 

The riddle she keeps is not of her making

The riddle she keeps so many must seek

The riddle she keeps is not for the taking

The riddle she keeps ‘neath the Willow Tree

 

(Guitar solo, or bass solo, or drum solo, or fucking xylophone solo. You can have mouse squeaks or pig farts or a monkey banging a rock against a garbage can. The point is that we are taking a break from the lyrics for a bit. This song is supposed to be constantly building, like “Stairway to Heaven” or  “American Pie.” So, we hit our musical climax, just waiting for the resolution, where it slows down again and stops.)

 

(Bridge)

For she, she is the one

And she, she is alone

The riddle seems never unbroken

All plans for her eternally undone

 

(Chorus)

The riddle she keeps is: she can’t be taken

The riddle she keeps is: all gold is cheap

The riddle she keeps is: she can only be given

The riddle she keeps ‘neath the Willow Tree

 

 

Gawain Gnosta