King Orfeo by Ken Theriot Lyrics
It fell about a May morning
Early greens the grove
When gone a-hunting was the King
The hart he goes there yearly
Out a-maying went the Queen
She's lain beneath the hawthorn green
She woke and screamed and tore her gown
And in her bower they've laid her down
The King said, "Tell me what you've seen
Out beneath the hawthorn green."
"A strange voice calling in my sleep
Said, 'You'll soon be mine to keep'
The King of Faerie comes for me
Tomorrow noon by that same tree."
King Orfeo said, "This I'll do
One hundred knights will ride with you
And if your fears are proven real
The fairy King shall meet our steel."
But it was as the lady feared
Despite her guard, she disappeared
In grief, the King took off his crown
In beggar's clothes he left the town
He played his harp to ease his pain
And ten years thus he did remain
Some ladies came a-hunting by
His Queen among them caught his eye
He chased and spared not stub nor stem
To castle's gate he followed them
He played his harp for castle's guard
And so gained entry as a bard
And passing he did see his Queen
Asleep beneath a hawthorn green
Now he's gone on into the hall
And played his harp among them all
He's harped the bird down from the sky
He's harped a tear from every eye
The fairy King said, "Name thy fee
"Ask anything, I'll give it thee!"
"Sir, grant me only that lady
That sleeps beneath the hawthorn tree."
The King said, "You are rough and mean
And she is fair as any Queen
And what a foul thing it would be
To see her in thy company."
"A fouler thing, so I have heard
Is a King who breaks his given word."
The King, who knew the words were true
Said, "Take her then away with you."
Then Orfeo he glad arose
And he's cast off his beggar's clothes
He's brought his Queen back to the town
And taken up again his crown
He ruled in faith his fellow men
And ne'er saw fairy folk again
Early greens the grove
When gone a-hunting was the King
The hart he goes there yearly
Out a-maying went the Queen
She's lain beneath the hawthorn green
She woke and screamed and tore her gown
And in her bower they've laid her down
The King said, "Tell me what you've seen
Out beneath the hawthorn green."
"A strange voice calling in my sleep
Said, 'You'll soon be mine to keep'
The King of Faerie comes for me
Tomorrow noon by that same tree."
King Orfeo said, "This I'll do
One hundred knights will ride with you
And if your fears are proven real
The fairy King shall meet our steel."
But it was as the lady feared
Despite her guard, she disappeared
In grief, the King took off his crown
In beggar's clothes he left the town
He played his harp to ease his pain
And ten years thus he did remain
Some ladies came a-hunting by
His Queen among them caught his eye
He chased and spared not stub nor stem
To castle's gate he followed them
He played his harp for castle's guard
And so gained entry as a bard
And passing he did see his Queen
Asleep beneath a hawthorn green
Now he's gone on into the hall
And played his harp among them all
He's harped the bird down from the sky
He's harped a tear from every eye
The fairy King said, "Name thy fee
"Ask anything, I'll give it thee!"
"Sir, grant me only that lady
That sleeps beneath the hawthorn tree."
The King said, "You are rough and mean
And she is fair as any Queen
And what a foul thing it would be
To see her in thy company."
"A fouler thing, so I have heard
Is a King who breaks his given word."
The King, who knew the words were true
Said, "Take her then away with you."
Then Orfeo he glad arose
And he's cast off his beggar's clothes
He's brought his Queen back to the town
And taken up again his crown
He ruled in faith his fellow men
And ne'er saw fairy folk again