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A Flame in Avalon

by Anne Lister

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1.
There is a flame in Avalon to guide the wanderer home Which we too often lose from sight and think we are alone There are no signs along the way and each must find a path And the only clues along the way are clues within the heart. There is a song in Avalon to heal the wounded soul That brings peace and love to all our dreams and makes what's broken whole Sometimes we hear it in our dreams and wake with salty tears Sometimes it comes on the darkest night in the forest of our  fears. And there is a love in Avalon that's patient, strong and wise Firm as the ground beneath our feet, clearer than summer skies And those who've seen part of this love don't doubt any more That it's worth any journey, sailing to the farthest shore. And there is a dream in Avalon that all can live in peace Swords will turn to ploughshares and all violence will cease Justice and freedom triumphing over centuries of pain Smiles after teardrops, as sunshine follows rain. But there is a pain in Avalon that's known just to a few Who find the pathway easily as all true lovers do And gazing from the gateway they find they can't go inside But must sing about its beauty to those who need a guide. There is a flame in Avalon to guide my feet back home I've been too long travelling and working all alone You know that you can't follow me, but me I've made my choice And I'll leave you all my guidebooks, all I'm taking is my voice.
2.
No Words 04:54
It seems there are no words No names, no dates,no places All that we need is heard Not through the lines but the spaces All that we need comes down to this Eyes meeting eyes and souls that kiss In fairy tales the final wish It seems there are no words. There's really no need to talk No stories, no words, no phrases Songs echo as we walk Measuring our lives with our paces You with your life, I with mine No hidden words, no secret sign Not the grapes but honeyed wine It seems there are no words. Don't walk too close,don't stand too far Caught in the beam of a billion year old star The sun has blown fresh tears to my eyes And taken away all thoughts of disguise.... There's nothing to regret No lies, no hurt,no treason From the very first day we met There was just love beyond all reason Nothing to beware of, nothing to fear Nothing to witness,nothing to hear But a sense of truth when we come near It seems there are no words. Don't stand too close¬ don't walk too far .... Hold me before you go But don't hold me as a lover It's clear that we both know We don't need to cling to each other Both standing upright, standing apart Eyes within eyes and heart within heart Beyond a poet's or musician's art It seems there are no words.
3.
The Tortoise 04:24
What makes you fly so high said the sparrow What makes you want to leave the earth below ? To be lower than your hope leads to sorrow¬ said the lark And what makes you sing so sweet said the cuckoo If you've a fine song¬ why not sing it loud ? There's more done softly than is done in shouting¬ said the dove And I'd fly high if I could said the dormouse I'd sing sweetly if I could said the hound And I'd move fast if I could said the tortoise from the ground And what a strange thing is man said all creatures For he can walk and run and swim and fly He can sing and shout and talk and change his homeplace And calls life hard ... What makes you hunt us all said the fieldmouse What makes you plunge down for the kill ? Why not ask the bee not to search for blossoms¬ said the hawk And I'd eat grass if I could said the vulture I'd hunt flowers if I could said the lion But I'd leave some alive said the tortoise from the ground And what a strange thing is man said all creatures He'll hunt and kill all living things the same He'll destroy the earth and everything within it And say he's won
4.
May Morning 03:12
Did you hear the sun on a bright may morning Did you hear the sun when he played at dawn Did you hear the sun on a bright may morning Call down a blessing on the growing corn ? And where were you as the dawn was breaking Were you still asleep in bed ? With the world all dancing to the pipes of the sun And a song of gold in every head. You live in the city all wrapped in concrete With nothing but pavements beneath your feet How can you hear the world as it's turning Or dance to the rhythm of the changing beat ? Here's a garland for the lady in every hedgerow Here's a song for the sun and a dance for the moon Here's a laugh for the living and a prayer for the dying And a wish for the world to all sing in tune.
5.
Listen to the singing of the knife Listen to the story it told to me All men are equal and some are free That's how we justify life Listen to the singing of the blade Listen to the story it told last night All men know evil and some know right That's why we should be afraid. You were the one who made a choice You were the one who had a voice You were the one who picked me up Held me in his arms You were the one who sharpened me You were the one who hefted me What kind of argument could There be That you didn't mean any harm ? Listen .. You were the one who christened me You were the one who bloodied me You were the one who carved a pattern Along my hilt Yours was the argument yours the war Yours the prize worth fighting for Now it's time to count the score And settle the guilt. Listen ... All through the centuries through the years The knife blade sings of blood and tears The knife blade sings of rage and fears The killing and the pain There's no conscience in the blade that kills There's no desire and no lust to still The knife just does as its master wills And death leaves a stain. Listen ... I did not choose my master, said the knife I did not choose my victim,said the knife I did not choose the way The place, the year or day I did not choose my master, said the knife.
6.
After the battle the daylight faded And darkness fell not a word was spoken I stood by the king a while and waited The sword in his hand like his heart was broken And what did he say but to throw the sword away Throw it in the water that ever runs deep What did he say but to throw the sword away And then he said- then he could sleep. By the lakeside the seabirds were calling I stood by the water with the sword in my hand And all around me the shadows were falling Darkness fell on all the green land And what could I do but to walk back to the king The broken sword hanging more heavy than gold But how could I throw the sword into the lake May God forgive me the lies that I told. Again he looked at me his eyes as dark as pain Told me to take the sword to the lake Told me to throw it till it flew to its home again Told me to be sure and make no mistake And down by the lakeside once more the seabirds called The still waters lying as heavy as death But I took the sword and threw it towards the sky And as it fell I heard a soft sighing breath. In the lake rose an arm clothed in samite In the lake rose an arm clothed in white The hand caught the sword and waved it three times round And darkness fell, darker than midnight. When I reached the battlefield the king was no longer there I ran to the cliff top and looked to the sea A ship on the water with sails of silver And four ladies standing their backs turned to me And Arthur between them sailing to Avalon The coastline of Albion slowly turned black And I walked homewards into the darkness To wait for the day when the king will come back. For there's no end now to my story There's no end to the tale that I've told The hand caught the sword and waved it three times round The time will come when the dark will turn gold.
7.
Definition 03:27
I am the wine you poured when you needed cheering I am the cup that you raised to your trembling lips I am the comfort that speaks below peoples§ hearing I bring you peace and love as a free-given gift. I am the road you travel on while you're escaping I am the steering wheel moving beneath your two hands I bring relief from the troubles of your own making I am the solid ground which helps you to stand. I'm in the bubbles of hope¬ not the prickles of envy I'm in the seesaws of love¬ not the fog of despair I'm in the wildness of joy¬ not the madness of frenzy I'm in the shining stars¬ not the spotlight glare. I am the calm that comes when the storm is over I am the freshness that comes when the rainshowers cease I am the sunset gleam and the dawn's first glimmer I have no limits or rules where I spread my peace. I am the smile that comes between sleeping and waking I am the strength that you find when the world falls apart I am the friends that come round when your heart is breaking I am the music that plays to the beat of your heart. I make no guarantees and I make no bargains Make no decisions about when to enter the game Choose my time to arrive and bring my own comfort Everyone knows me and calls me by their own name ....
8.
Lullaby 04:27
Rockabye baby, cradle and all I'll tell you a story as night starts to fall I'll tell you a story as day turns to night All the best fairytales all turn out right. In all of the stories whenever you're crying Someone is passing by, walking or flying Godmothers,fairies or angels on high You can be sure you'll be heard when you cry. Frogs are all princes, ugly ducklings are swans There's magic at hand when all hope is gone Poor folk and honest folk always win through How I wish fairytales always came true. There's always a way to win through to the treasure There's just enough pain before you find the pleasure If you think that you're beaten help comes along And it's easy to see who's right and who's wrong And just when you think that your heart has been broken A prince comes along with a slipper or token It's you that he's looking for, you that he kisses Why is it in real life there are so many misses ? Hold on to the hand of your sister or brother And keep clear away from your wicked stepmother Children take action, the youngest are strongest Spells by the good fairy always last longest Rags turn to riches and stones turn to jewels There's always a punishment if you are cruel So rockabye baby until it is morning You'll find life's not quite like this - ¬ this is a warning.
9.
Hawthorn 03:42
I cut and peeled a hawthorn wand And held it firmly in my hand And wandered down a winding path Through all the forests in the land Last night I saw him in my dreams Tall and slender as a willow He whispered songs into my heart And laid a leaf upon my pillow. I saw his face in the rippling trees Heard his voice as the yew tree shook Heard him singing on an eastern breeze Saw his smile in a running brook I saw him standing crisp and clear Underneath a rainbow ray And he has never seemed so clear As when I saw him far away And who will open the gate for me When my wandering comes to an end And who will wait on the road of dreams To be my lover or be my friend ? For now the roads that I walk down Are lined with oak and ash and thorn I'll build my love a forest crown And dance with him from dusk till dawn. If you would walk on the road of dreams Take someone there to be your guide Know that nothing is as it seems And you need someone by your side. I see him standing in my dreams Tall and slender as a willow He whispers songs into my heart And lays may blossom on my pillow.
10.
Icarus 03:04
I never wanted to fly high ¬ I was fond of walking So when you said you'd reach the sky I thought it was a way of talking But you told me you'd build some wings¬ You'd thought out how it could be done And I was doubtful of everything Never thought you'd reach the sun. You were so clever with your hands I watched you for hours With your glue and rubber bands Feathers and lace and flowers And the finished wings they gleamed so bright Like some bird of glory I began to envy you your flight Like some hero's story. You asked me to go along with you Tried all ways to dare me But I looked at the sky so blue And said the height would scare me But I carried the wings for you Up the path to the cliff face Kissed you goodbye and watched your eyes Already bright with sunshine. It was so wonderful at the start To watch you soaring higher It was a pain deep in my heart The wings seemed tipped with fire Like some seagull or some lark Soaring to the heavens Like some ember or some spark Vanishing from earth for ever. And I believed you'd reach the sun I believed all you'd told me You'd do a thing no man had ever done And catch a star to please me But then I saw the white wings fold Saw the feathers tremble Watched you fall like a ball of gold The waves and waters ripple. There are some who are born to rise And some are born to follow Some who head straight for the skies And some walk in the hollow And as I watched your body fall I knew that really you had won For your grave was not the earth But the reflection of the sun.
11.
I do not want my son to go to war Said the goddess to the sea Or find what swords and shields are for But keep him safe with me I'll dress him sweetly as a girl And keep him hidden from the world And when the battle flags unfurl Achilles will be safe. I do not wish my son to suffer pain Said the goddess to the sea Or live with human stress and strain But keep him safe with me I'll wash his body in a healing charm To keep him covered¬ free from harm And closer than a mother's arms Achilles will be safe. But when the heroes sailed for Troy They took with them the golden boy They tricked him with a sword and shield And took him training in the field And no-one noticed that his heel Wasn't covered by the charm. If my son must fight I'll arm him well Said the goddess to the sea He'll be a hero of tales they'll tell If I can't keep him safe with me He led a troop of handpicked men Who hacked and killed and hacked again And all the Trojans shuddered when Achilles went to war. What is it between gods and men Said the goddess to the sea They fight and talk but fight again It makes no sense to me Peace can't last and nor can truce There's just this game called lose and lose The hanged man picks another noose Achilles is the same. And when the heroes ran for Troy With the first ran the golden boy He burned for anger¬ burned for fame He burned to win a lasting name Like an arrow speeding to its aim Achilles ran to death.
12.
Pause Awhile 03:04
To every evening there is a sunset To every morning there is a dawn To every new thing there is an ending For every death something new is born. So I won't see this time as final I won't see this time with pain Pause awhile along the pathway Pick the suitcase up again. All the pinks and blues of evening All the reds and gold of day All the greens and browns of living Make the clear light along the way. And all the good times start with strangers Becoming lovers or becoming friends And if this change now seems full of danger It's a beginning and not an end. And every dream is a hope that beckons Every success is a dream that's won And every failure's another lesson And every morning sees a rising sun.

about

Contains a few songs which have had a life beyond my own recordings, including "Icarus", "May Morning", "The Song of the Knife" and "Lullaby".

credits

released May 1, 2020

Recorded with Liv Elliott in 1995 at her bijou Studio 9 in Brixton. The recording was enabled by a generous loan from Vic and Reba Heyman. Artwork by Cilla Conway.
Musicians involved were Steafan Hannigan, Julia Lane, Mary McLaughlin, Mike Cosgrave and Fan Kay.

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Anne Lister Wales, UK

Anne is best known for her song "Icarus", recorded and performed by a number of different singers, including Martin Simpson and Nic Jones. "Astrolabe" is her ninth solo album.

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