This is one of those songs that I've laboured over for a while, trying to hammer into shape, with different lyrics etc. I feel that the time has come to lay it to rest, and walk away from it!
This is another East Anglian myths and legends song, based on a supposedly true tale of what once happened at Crowland Minster (or at least, according to some version I read in a book from the 1920s).
I got a melodica delivered today which I couldn't resist putting on this. Perhaps I should've resisted until I could play it better - might end it taking it off!
A young girl came across the land
To render Crowland in her fair hand
She took a room in a lodging house
On the night she met the widow
As the sun did rise and the mist rolled in
To the dining room they were called in
No grace was said around the feast
On the night she met the widow
The meat was sliced, the bread was baked
But of neither the widow would partake
She would only deign her thirst to slake
On the night she met the widow
Nobody knows if she's to blame
Nobody knows from whence she came
But nobody has forgotten her name
The widow of Crowland
The artist went to a lonely Fen
To set up her easel to paint, but then
She felt that she was being watched
And turned to see the widow
For before her disbelieving eyes
A shadowy shape began to rise
And assumed the form of a monstrous hound
Where once had stood the widow
The hound pounced, and meant to kill
But the artist had fight inside her still
And shone a torch into the creatures eyes
Which must have killed the widow
Nobody knows..
The howling hound turned and fled
And the artist ran like the dead
Back to the house where she found them
Comforting the widow
They feared she may have lost her mind
For suddenly, she'd been struck blind
The artist packed and left for home
With the tale of the widow.
Nobody knows..
@janeg Feb 2022
Great story to put to music! Very much the creepy old aenglish folk tale feel. But what was the name nobody forgot?
@neuflex Feb 2022
Love the underlying mystery and sinisterness of this. It brings to mind some kind of sinister funfair. The melodica is a great addition!
@george Feb 2022
This is a great story—the brush is mightier than the sword! The twist at the end in the last 2 verses is really interesting. I wonder what would happen if some sort of musical change or cadence in the lyrics occurred there? (Also, I agree with the comment that the melodica is a cool add!)
@ferry0123 Feb 2022
I love that short change at 1.45, it adds so much to the song, as does the melodica.
Listened to Chihuahua Uber Alles too. That's some fun-induced appealing punk!