Thomas the Rhymer:

This is quite new; the multipart song begins with a guitar/brass-riff, transforms
into a folky section with nearly classical themes, which is followed by symphonic-
rock, ending up with the swinging folksy parts. It’s multipart because the old
scottish fairy tale (based on Walter Scott’s version) is in fact a very long story
– the song of course contains only excerpts of the story. Nevertheless there are
various steps in the tale and the music tries to interprete these by using violin
and accordion for the softer and brass and guitar for the heavier sections. You
can hear the end of the song, it’s a rework of the first theme by violin, accordion
and soprano sax and eventually Angela takes over..

Lyrics Thomas the Rhymer:

(Music: Fastenmeier / Lyrics: W. Scott, arr. Fastenmeier)

Light down, light down now, true Thomas
And lean your head upon my knee
Abide, and rest a little space
And I will show you fairlies three

That is the path of wickedness
Though some call it the road to heaven
Whatever you may hear

And see you not that bright, bright road
That lies across the lily leven
Oh, see you not that narrow road
so thick beset with thorns and briers

That is the road to Elfland
Where you and I this night may go
Whatever you may hear

And see you not the bonny road
That winds about the fernie brow
But, Thomas you may hold your tongue
Whatever you may hear or see

For, if you speak word in Elfyn land
You’ll never get back to your own country
Whatever you may hear

Oh they rade on, and farther on
And they waded through rivers above the knee
And they saw neither sun or moon
But they heard the roaring of the sea

Then all by bonny Coldingknow

Since they came on to a garden green
And she put an apple from a tree
Take this for your wages, true Thomas
It will give you the tongue that can never lie

Then all by bonny Coldingknow

My tongue is my own, true Thomas said
A gudely gift you would give to me
I’m neither able to buy nor sell
At fair or trust where I may be

Then all by bonny Coldingknow

I should neither speak to prince or peer
Nor ask of grace from fair lady
Now hold your peace, the lady said
For, as I say, so it must be

Then all by bonny Coldingknow

When seven years more had come and gone
True Thomas rose, with harp in hand
In minstrel strife, in Fairy Land
The elfin harp he won

He has gotten a coat of even cloth
And a pair of shoes of velvet green
And till seven years were gone and past
True Thomas on earth was never (ever) seen