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Awake Arise : A Winter Album

by Lady Maisery

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sophie
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sophie a friend introduced me to this album two winters ago, and it's very quickly become a staple in my household (it isn't the holiday season until sing we all merrily plays).

the tracks that particularly strike me though are heading for home, the bear song, and the old churchyard - the way the world cycles on, the turning of the wheel, life and death in a beautiful dance. we could despair that our time is short, but we seek joy and love again and again.

I love this album. Favorite track: The Bear Song.
pecamina
pecamina thumbnail
pecamina Delightful album, can't stop playing it even in mid-January. Beautiful haunting songs, melding harmonies, musical and tight, an unusual combination. Love it
Master of Alchemy
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Master of Alchemy A wonderful folk celebration of winter.

The Bear Song is very similar to Drugstore's Wayward Daughter from 2001 (which itself would fit well alongside this album)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xet2HzV9UqY

"If you could see the morning light
Coming through this winter sky
So the mystery unfolds
When the black turns into gold
Look at all the crazy people
Running in the dark against the light" Favorite track: The Bear Song.
npfehr
npfehr thumbnail
npfehr Beautifully encompasses the light and dark, the joy and melancholy, of winter and the Christmas season. Favorite track: Hail Smiling Morn.
bessiedodd
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bessiedodd just a beautiful sounding and widely varied mix of wintery music and readings that is lovely to listen to again and again. Favorite track: The Old Churchyard.
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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Beautifully presented with full lyrics, poems, recipes and illustrations, this 17 track album comes from an unmissable festive collaboration between two of the English folk scene's most inventive acts: trio Lady Maisery and duo Jimmy Aldridge & Sid Goldsmith. 'Awake Arise' celebrates the riches of varied winter traditions from the British Isles and further afield and reflects on the hope and resilience in folksong that can bring us closer together through the darkest season.

    A companion to the live show, their debut album features traditional songs, folk carols, spoken word and newly written music to galvanize and brighten this darkest season. Awake Arise is a warm gift to the wintertime from five of the most engaging and celebrated performers on the English folk scene. True to the reputations of both acts as out-spoken voices on the folk scene, this collection is also a rallying cry to embrace the power of collective endeavor as a vital support during times of hardship and loneliness. In this most uncertain of winters, Awake Arise is more than just a great night out; these are essential songs which remind us who we are and why we matter to each other.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Awake Arise : A Winter Album via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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  • Full Digital Discography

    Get all 6 Lady Maisery releases available on Bandcamp and save 10%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of tender, Awake Arise : A Winter Album, Mayday, Live, Cycle, and Weave & Spin. , and , .

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1.
Now winter is here we will draw round the fire Sister and brother and grandson and sire Christians and heathens their voices will bring Gather together, make merry and sing Sing we all merrily and sing with good cheer For the day we love best of the days of the year Bring out the holly, the box and the bay Deck out our cottage for glad Christmas Day Sing we all merrily and sing with good cheer Talk of the absent and wish they were here Sisters at service and brothers away Oh how I wish they were with us today Sing we all merrily and sing with great mirth Sing loud and joyful for peace upon earth Parents and children down icy streets walk Hasten to together to lighten the dark
2.
Cold blows the wind from east to west The drift is driving sairly So loud and shrill I hear the blast I’m sure that it’s winter fairly Up in the morning’s not for me Up in the morning early When all the hills are covered with snow I’m sure that it’s winter fairly The birds sit chattering in the thorn All day they fare but sparely And long’s the night from evening to morn I’m sure that it’s winter fairly Up in the morning’s not for me Up in the morning early When all the hills are covered with snow I’m sure that it’s winter fairly --- The Christmas Road “Outside there is no surprise in the coldness of the morning. It lies on the valley like a frozen goose. Taking the air in my teeth I feel the old excitement, the raw echoes of an ancestral world, crammed with bull-headed mammoths and tusk toothed tigers, of flint spears and boasting in caves. Today is the winter as it always was, and when it wasn't it was not remembered. Forgotton, now, are the small freaks of weather, the offbeat heatwaves and wet-warm Decembers that have cropped up now and then in the past. Winter was always like this since the beginning of winters, since the first man learned how to sneeze. Pushing the cold before me like a sheet of tin, I set off up the Christmas road." Laurie Lee Village Christmas: And Other Notes on the English Year
3.
Bring hither now the holly bough with berries bright and red The ivy from the ruined tower where owls shriek o’er the dead The mistletoe with mystic power and winter’s garland weave And the Yule logs blaze shall shed it’s rays to cheer our Christmas eve The rack rides fast, deep howls the blast, where is the linnet now? And where the rose of sunny June? The blossoms of the sloe? They’re gone but they’ll return again and meantime lest we grieve We’ll warm our hearts with wassail cups and cheer our Christmas eve Come Betty dear no voice of love in nature now we hear But angels near us whisper it through all the varied year In cold or heat, in gloom or shine, the heart it shall not leave For as when sultry summer reigns it burns at Christmas eve We’ll wake the viols merry strings while tempest clouds advance And while the pane cracks with big hail we tread the careless dance Thus shall the soul’s warm summer shine ‘til changeful earth we leave And the Yule fire and the wassail cup shall cheer our Christmas eve
4.
5.
Hail smiling morn, smiling morn That tips the hills with gold, that tips the hills with gold And whose rosy fingers open wide the gates of Heaven, the gates of Heaven And whose rosy fingers open wide the gates of Heaven All the green fields that nature doth unfold All the green fields that nature doth unfold At whose bright presence darkness flies away, flies away, flies away Darkness flies away, darkness flies away At whose bright presence darkness flies away, flies away, flies away Hail! Hail! Hail! Hail! Hail! Hail! Hail! Hail! Reginald Spofforth (Roud 1346)
6.
“The principal berries which ornament our country on the naked boughs during the winter months are as follows: The Holly Ilex Aquifolium, whose berries are scarlet. Ivy Hedera Helix, berries green. Pyracantha Mespilus Pyracantha, berries bright-orange. White Thorn Crategus Oxycantha, berries red. Wild Roses Rosa Canina, berries light red. Black Thorn Prunus Spinosa, berries bluish grey. Bittersweet Nightshade Solarium Dulcamara, red. Missletoe Viscum Album, berries green. Yew Taxus Baccata, berries red. These and several other shrubs bearing ornamental berries should be sought for in laying out a garden. They ornament nature when all but the evergreens are leafless, and serve to decorate our windows and churches at Christmas.”
7.
Come, come with me, to the old churchyard I so well know those paths 'neath the soft green sward Friends slumber in there that we want to regard We will trace out their names in the old churchyard Mourn not for them, for their trials are o'er Oh why weep for those who will weep no more? For sweet is their sleep, though cold and hard Their pillows may be in the old churchyard I know it seems vain when our friends depart To breathe kind words to a broken heart And I know that the joy of life is marred When we follow lost friends to the old churchyard But were I at rest ‘neath yonder tree Oh, why would you weep, my friends, for me? I'm so weary, so wayworn, why would you retard The peace I seek in the old churchyard? Why weep for me, for I'm anxious to go To that haven of rest where no tears ever flow And I fear not to enter that dark lonely ward For soon I shall rise from the old churchyard I rest in the hope, that one bright day Sunshine will burst through these prisons of clay And old Gabriel's trumpet and the voice of the Lord Will wake up the dead in the old churchyard
8.
Bear Song by Rowan Rheingans It's the end of the year and all the leaves are turning brown A young girl watches dancers turning around With tired legs and tired eyes she leaves the floor And walks outside and into the forest The moon is silver hanging in the trees The floor's a mossy rug under her feet The moonlight shows her she is not alone “Hello”, she says, to the bear in the forest The bear looks up and greets the little girl He holds out a paw and says, “the year is turning The leaves will fall and I must soon to bed But tonight there is still time for dancing” They danced every dance they knew The leaves fell down, the woods were spinning Just before the sun began to rise The brown bear raised his head and sighed “Now it's time for sleeping” “Must you go bear” she said “Must you go bear, to your winter bed Oh, can't we dance just one more The morning can wait its turn” The bear he said, “we are from different worlds You and I who dance so well together I must go to my winter bed The leaves are gone, the year is turning” “We are from different worlds You and I who dance so well together”
9.
Night Came Early “Night came early, with the valley and it’s woods closing in darkly around the house. Now was the time to light the tree, it’s branches loaded with tinsel, with silver cut-out moons and stars, and with the clip on candles, each a living tongue of flame, building up a pyramid of dancing light. Mother put out the oil lamps one by one, and we stood hushed and entranced together, adoring the tree and it’s chaste white glare coated all over in frosty fire. The precious day was dying. We struggled to keep awake, our eyes shadowed like burnt-out candles. How could we leave the beautiful tree? We piled our toys at the foot of our beds and Mother tucked us up, her shadow large on the ceiling, thrown by the beams of a single candle. As long as she was there it was still Christmas, as long as she held the light in our room, the day somehow could not end. We clung desperately to this last moment. Then Mother left us, and the angle of the candlelight grew narrower on the wall, and finally went out, closing that day forever.” Laurie Lee Village Christmas: And Other Notes on the English Year
10.
The King 03:04
Joy, health, love, and peace be all here in this place By your leave we will sing concerning our king Our king is well dressed in the silks of the best In ribbons so rare, no king can compare We have travelled many miles over hedgerows and stiles In search of our king, unto you we bring We have powder and shot to conquer the lot We have cannon and ball to conquer them all Old Christmas is past, Twelfth Night is the last And we bid you adieu, great joy to the new
11.
Da Day Dawn 04:34
Like as the Thrush “Like as the thrush in winter, when the skies Are drear and dark, and all the woods are bare, Sings undismayed. Till from his melodies Odours of Spring float through the frozen air. So in my heart when sorrow’s icy breath Is bleak and bitter and its frost is strong, Leaps up, defiant of despair and death, A sunlit fountain of triumphant song. Sing on, sweet singer, till the violets come And south winds blow; sing on, prophetic bird! Oh if my lips, which are for ever dumb, Could sing to men what my sad heart has heard. Life’s darkest hour with songs of joy would ring; Life’s blackest frost would blossom into Spring.”
12.
Oh the snow it melts the soonest when the winds begin to sing And the corn it ripens fastest when the frosts are setting in And when a young man tells me that my face he’ll soon forget Oh before we part, I’d bet a crown, he’d be fain to follow it yet Oh the snow it melts the soonest when the winds begin to sing And the swallow skims without a thought as long as it is spring But when spring goes and winter blows, my love you will be fain For with all your pride, to follow me, were to cross the stormy main Oh the snow it melts the soonest when the winds begin to sing And the bee that flew when summer shone in winter cannot sting I’ve seen a young man’s anger melt between the night and morn So it’s surely not a harder thing to tame a young man’s scorn Well I’ll not say me farewell here, no farewell I’ll receive I’ll go and meet you at the stile, you’ll kiss and take your leave And I’ll wait here ‘til the woodcock calls, and the martin takes his wing For the snow it melts the soonest love, when the winds begin to sing
13.
Snow Falls 04:11
Cruel winter cuts through like the reaper The old year lies withered and slain Like Barleycorn who arose from the grave The new year will rise up again There will come a time of great plenty A time of good harvest and song ‘Til then put your trust in tomorrow my friend For yesterday's over and done And the snow falls The wind calls The year turns round again ‘Til then put your trust in tomorrow my friend For yesterday's over and done Then I’ll garland a bonnet of daisies I’ll crown you the queen of the may And all shall behold the seasons unfold As surely as night follows day And the snow falls The wind calls The year turns round again All shall behold the seasons unfold As surely as night follows day And I'll wager a hat full of guineas Against all the songs you can sing Some day you'll love, the next day you'll lose And winter will turn into spring And the snow falls The wind calls The year turns round again Some day you'll love, the next day you'll lose And winter will turn into spring And the snow falls The wind calls The year turns round again Like Barleycorn who arose from the grave The new year will rise up again
14.
“Take 1 lb. of brown sugar, 1 pint of hot beer, a grated nutmeg, and a large lump of preserved ginger root cut up. Add 4 glasses of sherry, and stir well. When cold, dilute with 5 pints of cold beer, spread a suspicion of yeast on to hot slices of toasted bread, and let it stand covered for several hours. Bottle off and seal down, and in a few days it should be bursting the corks, when it should be poured out into the wassail bowl, and served with hot, roasted apples floating in it.”
15.
Now Christmas is over, the New Year begins Come open your door and let us come in With our wassail, wassail, wassail, wassail And joy come to our jolly wassail Come master and mistress who sit by the fire While we poor wassailers do walk through the mire With our wassail, wassail, wassail, wassail And joy come to our jolly wassail We at this door, we do orderly stand Us jolly wassailers with a bowl in our hand With our wassail, wassail, wassail, wassail And joy come to our jolly wassail Good mistress and master, sitting down at your ease Put your hand in your pocket and give what you please With our wassail, wassail, wassail, wassail And joy come to our jolly wassail We hope that your barley may prosper and grow That you may have plenty and enough to bestow On our wassail wassail, wassail, wassail And joy come to our jolly wassail It’s Happy New Year, and long may you live Since you’ve been so kind and willing to give Long live our wassail, wassail, wassail, wassail And joy come to our jolly wassail Verses from two singers; Bessie Wallace in Camborne and Mr. W. D. Watson in Penzance, both collected by James Madison Carpenter between 1928 – 1935. (Roud 209)
16.
My face to the sky, my back to the wind Winter is entering my bones The day has been long and night's drawing in And I'm thinking of heading for home And I'm thinking of heading for home The cradle and grave, the fruit and the seed The seasons they mirror my own The geese flying south are calling to me And I'm thinking of heading for home And I'm thinking of heading for home Always on the move with banner unfurled Yet gathering moss on a stone I sing to the children and cry for the world And I'm thinking of heading for home And I'm thinking of heading for home As time's my old friend and death's my new kin I'm not taking the journey alone I am old, I am young, and I’m all that I've been And I'm thinking of heading for home And I'm thinking of heading for home The memory of love will burn in my heart ‘Til embers and ashes are gone The light in your window is my northern star And I'm thinking of heading for home And I'm thinking of heading for home Peggy Seeger, 2003
17.
I heard some saying, leave hope and praying All days shall be as all have been Today, tomorrow, bring fear and sorrow And never ending woe between But the hope we lost begins to glimmer Like Autumn wheat under snow lies green The moon that shines through clouds and darkness The babe inside that grows unseen Come shoulder to shoulder, for the world grows older Help lies in none but you and I Hope is before us, so let our chorus Bring joy at last to all our lives When the earth was younger, mid toil and hunger In hope we strove, our hands were strong Then great men led us, with words they fed us And made us sing a different song But now the seeds of spring are sown Let wintered hearts be warmed by sun The joy of people now buds and grows The birds will sing ‘ere the winter’s done Come shoulder to shoulder, for the world grows older Help lies in none but you and I Hope is before us, so let our chorus Bring joy at last to all our lives We know not who’ll lead us, what god shall heed us But now we’ve seen what our hands have won The world’s been shaken and fear awakened But let good faith not be undone We have voice and vision from those before us The famed and honoured, the nameless wise While many living, their lives are giving To help a bright new world arise Come shoulder to shoulder, for the world grows older Help lies in none but you and I Hope is before us, so let our chorus Bring joy at last to all our lives Now to the tavern, the lights and fire The fiddler’s tune, under shuffling feet For in the morning a new day’s dawning The young abounding year we’ll meet Come shoulder to shoulder, for the world grows older Help lies in none but you and I Hope is before us, so let our chorus Bring joy at last to all our lives

about

This 17 track album comes from an unmissable festive collaboration between two of the English folk scene's most inventive acts: trio Lady Maisery and duo Jimmy Aldridge & Sid Goldsmith. 'Awake Arise' celebrates the riches of varied winter traditions from the British Isles and further afield and reflects on the hope and resilience in folksong that can bring us closer together through the darkest season.

A companion to the live show, their debut album features traditional songs, folk carols, spoken word and newly written music to galvanize and brighten this darkest season. Awake Arise is a warm gift to the wintertime from five of the most engaging and celebrated performers on the English folk scene. True to the reputations of both acts as out-spoken voices on the folk scene, this collection is also a rallying cry to embrace the power of collective endeavor as a vital support during times of hardship and loneliness. In this most uncertain of winters, Awake Arise is more than just a great night out; these are essential songs which remind us who we are and why we matter to each other.

credits

released May 9, 2020

Recorded, mixed and mastered by Neil Segrott.

Produced by Neil Segrott, Jimmy Aldridge, Sid Goldsmith, Hannah James, Rowan Rheingans & Hazel Askew.

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Lady Maisery Sheffield, UK

In an English folk scene currently bursting with bold and innovative folk music, vocal trio Lady Maisery shine brightly.

The Guardian has called theirs "some of the most some of the most exquisite, thrilling vocal harmony work in the English folk scene".

Over the last ten years, the trio have toured widely, performing sell-out shows across the UK and Europe.
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