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The Horseman of Ceunant y Cyffdy

from A Twist in the Story by Anne Lister

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about

A story found on a recording in the National Museum of Wales. The place is near Lake Bala. I added the last verse as an editorial to deter people from forming instant relationships with young men turning up with sundry white animals.

lyrics

As she was walking home, at the midnight hour
She saw a young man coming with a milk white cow
Saying “Can I walk with you, and can I take you home,
For it’s a dark and cloudy night and it’s best you’re not alone.”
“No, you can’t walk with me, and no you can’t take me home
For I’m not fond of any white cows, and I’m better off alone.”

As she was walking home, round about one o’clock
She saw a young man coming, with a snow white dog.
Saying “Can I walk with you, and can I take you home,
For it’s a dark and cloudy night and it’s best you’re not alone.”
“No, you can’t walk with me, and no you can’t take me home
For I’m not fond of any white dogs, and I’m better off alone.”

As she was walking home, two in the morning, of course
She saw that young man riding on a cloud-white horse.
Saying “Can I walk with you, and can I take you home,
For it’s a dark and cloudy night and it’s best you’re not alone.”
“Now you’re a fine looking young man, and I must say I do like your style,
And you can walk along with me, if I’m the one that rides.”

So it’s up in the saddle she mounted, with the young man walking beside
While in the sky the clouds all parted, and the moon and stars gave light
And they were nearly at her home, so nearly at her door
But then a great gate rolled behind her, and another gate before
So now she couldn’t go forwards, and now she couldn’t go back
And something rolled across the sky and everything turned black.

He said “Now will you marry me?” “How can I answer,” she said
“When what I want is to be out o this fix and safely home in bed.”
“Bring me your answer,” he told her, “in a month and a day”
And suddenly the gates all parted and she rode on her way.

For the next four weeks she whistled, and for the next four weeks she sang
And the next day she had gone from the village to the arms of that fine young man.

You’ll ask me, did this all happen? You’ll ask if this story is true
And all I’ll say is take care where you’re going in case it happens to you
Not everyone who smiles is your lover, not everyone who tricks you a foe
And sometimes there’s a twist in the story when you’re not sure where to go.
But love won’t block all your choices, true love lets you be who you are
And real love shines more bright in the sky than any moon or star.

credits

from A Twist in the Story, released April 29, 2022
Mike O'Connor - fiddle
Steafan Hannigan - percussion.

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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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