Philomela by Emma Gatrill Lyrics

He was a husband, a lover, a King no one knew what lay within him
He went out to me his wife’s sister an escort for her safety
Through the days that they spent in the carriage he bent
For he twisted and writhed for her body and mind

Arriving in Thrace he was utterly blind but to desire
Into the wood they did drive till trees surrounded all sides all was silent
Then they ground to a halt, he grabbed her arm dragged her out
And he forced her inside has his way whilst she cried

Philomela was her name
Though she screamed in pain
Though she screamed in vain

Her innocence defiled no shame left she shouted at the heavens
That she would tell all the people she saw that he was the devil
His power so mighty and strong, no one would know he’d done wrong
So he cut out her tongue, left her helpless and dumb

Philomela was her name
Though she couldn’t say
Though she couldn’t say
Her story she wove of threads and sent to her sister
Who with rage sought revenge on her king for he was but a pillager
So she killed their own son, red rage let this be done
And he willingly ate his own son from his plate

The king his eyes were ablaze his rage turned into fury
When he discovered that his own son now lay in his tummy
Oh the sisters they fled for he wanted them dead
And the king he pursued till the God’s changed their end

And they flew up high
Flew far from what lay behind
Two birds in the sky
A swallow, a nightingale
And she’ll sing her name
She’ll sing it again
Philomela
A nightingale