We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Eye of the Aeon & Mystic Spiral

by Silver on the Tree

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      £10 GBP  or more

     

1.
The Mabon 06:36
I am the Mabon: I am the child I am Yr: the golden bough I am the dart: the yew lets fly Three pure rays: the pillars of life I am the wren: the king of birds I am Bard: and teller of lies I am a song: within the heart I am a light: that will never die I am stars: within the void I am the Eye of the Aeon
2.
Cernunnos 02:37
Cernunnos, horned one Cernunnos, king of the sun Herne the hunted and hunter Stag god of the earth
3.
Ancient Ones 05:27
Rain comes falling down Rain comes falling down Trees reach for the sky Leaves grow on the trees Breeze shakes the leaves Seeds in the air Rain falling down Song of the breeze - O Ancient Ones Where the waters meet
4.
Dreamtime 04:28
Dreamtime, dreamtime Wake up to the dreamtime With your feet on the ground And your head in the stars Dance your dream awake Dream your dance awake
5.
The Falcon 02:58
He bare him up, he bare him down Lulley, lulley, lulley, lulley He bare him to an orchard brown The falcon hath borne my make away Down in yon forest there stands a hall It's covered all over with purple and pall In that hall there stands a bed It's covered all over with gold so red In that bed there lieth a knight His wounds did bleed both day and night Under that bed there runs a flood The one half runs water, the other runs blood By that bedside there kneeleth a may And she weepeth both night and day Upon the bedpost the moon shines bright To bring in the honey-dew this very night And by the bedside there standeth a stone The ancient mysteries written thereon
6.
The Glen 02:56
Walking through the glen I saw a grey stone On it read a name I used to know But I couldn't place it to a face I knew She had left me so long ago Why did she die? She died of a broken heart Long ago Memories flooding back over the years Wasn't my crazy mind hiding my fears Why is it now I cannot shed those tears? She died of a broken heart long ago And on her grave there grew white flowers Thinking about it I stood there for hours The flowers were the kind she used to love But she hadn't seen them long ago I can remember from long ago Woe, woe She used to love those snowy white petals Long ago The snow that had fallen during the night Lay right across the path making it white But from her grave it had taken to flight Her grave gave off a glow Thinking about it she gave off a glow Woe, woe And all around her was summer's show But she hadn't seen it long ago
7.
Samhain 02:16
The king of the waning year Sails over a sunless sea The goddess draws him to her As he enters the mystery She wraps her cloak around him And offers him her craft She says do not be fearful as you go into the dark For I will make you Lord of the Dance of Shadows King in the Realm of Dreams You shall be my lover And I will be your queen She whose name cannot be spoken Goddess of the land She whose promise is never broken Offers him her hand and says Step ashore, on the Shining Isle And we will dream the world to be
8.
Patapan 05:28
Mhaire bring your rounded drum With your long flute Robin come When we hear them play as one Turelurelu, Patapatapan When we hear them play as one Then the year will be well begun Thus the men of olden days Loved the uprising sun to praise Now we hear both flute and drum Surely we too must do the same! Sun and moon have now become More at one than flute and drum When we hear them play as one Together let us come!
9.
Ailshe Bán 01:56
Ailshe Bán, Ailshe Bán Give way to the milking The holy St Brigid is milking, milking The self same even, the white kye in heaven Sure my eyes scan the green place she is in Ailshe Bán, Ailshe Bán And her hand is so soft and her crooning so sweet As my milking is soft upon thee Ailshe Bán, Ailshe Bán So soft is my hand and my crooning so sweet Ailshe Bán
10.
Moonlight on Silver Tree Shimmering gossamer breeze Queen of seven starred crown With your musical sound Mortal hearts are bound Forever unto thee Queen of the star blazed wheel I'll dance your Moon Queen's reel Till I gently fall to earth And my heart will be bound With the heavenly sound That my love shall offer to thee
11.
Round and around it goes O! Round and around it goes The Earth spins in a midnight sky And the night time follows the day She spins in a wheel around the sun And together they hark and say The moon moves through the star filled skies From dark to crescent to full Thirteen times in the circle of the sun To grant your every boon The oak tree blooms and gives forth leaves A greeting to the sun Seeds ripen with the turning leaves And fall down to the ground The sun moves through the ancient signs Calling in the twelve to be The stars mark his fiery path And the ages come to be Wheels in wheels forever spin The great dance ever to be Round and round the music goes Unending harmony
12.
Dance the mystic spiral, dance the dance for me With each step revitalise flower plant and tree The dance is very ancient, its origins unknown But each step of life will gently bring you home For life is a Mystic Spiral, danced close to me Reaching ever onwards with love For flower, plant and tree Your future like the earth's is a balance very fine So dance the mystic spiral and scatter the seeds of time
13.
O the moon in waning into darker days O the light is fading into quieter ways Into the space that is our own Into the spirits' ancient home O the moon is dying, soft she slips away O the dark is dawning, holding all in sway Into the shadow of our hearts Into the place where all things start O the moon is shedding old life for the new From the void creating all that we can do Into the facing of our fears Into the crying of our tears O the moon grows older, now her time has come On nights black and starlit move into the sun Into the stillness of our souls Into the peace so deep and old O the moon is hidden, dark her face unseen O no light can find her resting in the dream Into the spinning of the spheres Into the weaving of the years
14.
The Hunter 06:05
He came like the breeze with the first of the leaves Giving all his shelter He awoke to the living grain Growing up to end hunger's pain O the hunter He came as the sun-crowned king To bring the solar power He came with the horns of gold Having pushed back the winter's cold He came falling down like the leaves to the ground Before the winter He fell with the falling sun He fell with the falling rain He came through the world spreading his winter cold Freezing all the rivers He came with the drifting snow He came in an icy flow O the hunter
15.
Fisherman 03:49
Fisherman I see you Hauling them in From deep waters Fisherman Mending your nets But I never can see Your fingers fly Fisherman What do you know? You know nothing Is there to be known
16.
Elfin Song 03:50
Winter's passed, the spring is now here Elfin song melts away my fears With its golden voice Hear the echo deep inside Like a newborn child it smiles Emerald light that forms the leaves Shimmers high on ancient trees Blossoms sweet perfume the air And give love's dream Diamonds gleam on a silver web Refracted rainbows A dewdrop flecked with the morning light A new dawn comes Feel the sunlight warm inside Taliesin's song inspired Blackbirds call giving their sing An offering to the Queen of Spring Elfin harps resound to speak their joy to all The spring is here and summer soon to come Ancient wisdoms will laugh in the sun And the mystery will grow Even through the autumn's show Rusted gold tapestries The spiral falling of the leaves And every year it comes again A well loved friend Winter's passed the spring is now here Elfin song melts away my fears With its golden voice Feel the sunlight warm inside Taliesin's song inspired
17.
Ancient gypsies are out on the plain Following their forebearers On the trail of a very ancient star Now we may remember who we are Love is tender like a silent open flower Love is strong as mountains in the night Love is smooth as shining running water Love is warm as fires burning bright In the night Ancient gypsies are out on the plain Once again, this time with the book of love This is what we've come to find At the end of all our anger And our pain and our sadness Love is wild as the blowing wind Love is raging as the stormy ocean When there's passion in the heart It can be so heard to see
18.
Once in ancient times When all the tribes of earth were one The fruit of the land, the sea, the sky Were shared by everyone And the sun shone brightly on the earth Once in ancient times There rose a tribe of jewels and fire They marched with joy, so brave, so strong To be first was their heart's desire Once in ancient times There rose a tribe of science and tools They made their machines, so wise, so clear To them other tribes were fools Once in ancient times There rose a tribe of hearth and home They laughed and played, so warm, so free The sky was their pleasure dome Now in ancient times The tribes of earth have refused to share The world that was once so bright for all Will be darkened everywhere And the sun grows weaker every day Now in present times The tribes of earth are one again They share their thought, their strength their warmth In a rainbow of harmony And the sun shines brightly on the earth

about

1 - 10 Recorded at The Assembly Rooms, Glastonbury 1990
11 - 18 Recorded at Red Rug Studios, Exeter, May 1992
Due to the age and format of the original recordings there are variations in the sound quality, the removal of which would have destroyed the integrity and ambience of the performances.

Silver on the Tree began in 1987 with a collective of musicians brought together to provide the soundtrack for some of Glastonbury's modern Mystery plays in collaboration with author Kathy Jones. We continued meeting to celebrate the seasons and started writing chants and performing pagan carols. The name is drawn from "The Dark is Rising" by Susan Cooper. It alludes to the silver branch of office carried by the bards.

Our music grew out of social gatherings and a common desire to connect with and sing the sounds of our landscape and honour the spirits of nature. We also wanted to celebrate the divine masculine in balance and harmony with the divine feminine.

Silver on the Tree's music was taken up by protest groups and the pagan movement, despite only ever playing live on auspicious blue moons. Silver on the Tree never formally disbanded and still lies sleeping in many people's hearts.

In loving memory of Sheena Johnstone

credits

released February 1, 2024

Claire Jones - vocals, drums
Dreow Bennett - vocals
Lydia Lyte - drums, bodhran, bells, vocals, guitar
Oshia Drury - vocals, Appalachian dulcimer
Sheena Johnstone - recorder, vocals, dancing
Shiona Phillips - vocals
Tim Hawthorn - vocals, bouzouki, electric bass, acoustic guitar
Vivien Andreae - vocals, mandolin
Jana Runnalls - drums, vocals, bells, clarinet
Kat Brown - percussion, double bass
David Kreps - vocals
Glen Childs - Didge

Produced and mixed by Jana Runnalls.
1 - 10 Engineered and recorded by Jana Runnalls & Kat Brown.
11 - 18 Engineered by Jake Klosin.
Sound advice and impeccable timing: John Cartwright.
All arrangements: Silver on the Tree.
2024 remaster: Tim Hawthorn.

Cover art: Sheena Johnstone & Tim Hawthorn

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Silver on the Tree Glastonbury, UK

Avalonian Acapella and gossamer webbed harmonies to dance the dreaming Earth Awake

contact / help

Contact Silver on the Tree

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

Silver on the Tree recommends:

If you like Silver on the Tree, you may also like: