Let us evoke the tradition of Winter Solstice with Ian Anderson's poem "Ring Out Solstice Bells" a song featured on the 1977 Jethro Tull album "Songs from the Woods" and previously issued on a rare 1976 EP. The single had a cover painting depicting Ian Anderson as an Archdruid, which curiously reminds Charles Knight's, "Arch-Druid in his full Judicial Costume" etching from Old England: A Pictorial Museum (1845), or even Stuart Piggott's "The Druids" book cover!
Now is the solstice of the year,
winter is the glad song that you hear.
Seven maids move in seven time.
Have the lads up ready in a line.
Ring out these bells.
Ring out, ring solstice bells.
Ring solstice bells.
Join together beneath the mistletoe.
By the holy oak whereon it grows.
Seven druids dance in seven time.
Sing the song the bells call, loudly chiming.
Ring out these bells.
Ring out, ring solstice bells.
Ring solstice bells.
Praise be to the distant sister sun,
joyful as the silver planets run.
Seven maids move in seven time.
Sing the song the bells call, loudly chiming.
Ring out those bells.
Ring out, ring solstice bells.
Ring solstice bells.
Ring on, ring out.
Ring on, ring out.
winter is the glad song that you hear.
Seven maids move in seven time.
Have the lads up ready in a line.
Ring out these bells.
Ring out, ring solstice bells.
Ring solstice bells.
Join together beneath the mistletoe.
By the holy oak whereon it grows.
Seven druids dance in seven time.
Sing the song the bells call, loudly chiming.
Ring out these bells.
Ring out, ring solstice bells.
Ring solstice bells.
Praise be to the distant sister sun,
joyful as the silver planets run.
Seven maids move in seven time.
Sing the song the bells call, loudly chiming.
Ring out those bells.
Ring out, ring solstice bells.
Ring solstice bells.
Ring on, ring out.
Ring on, ring out.
© 1976 - Ian Anderson
all rights reserved.
all rights reserved.
1 comment:
I love this song on the Jethro Tull Christmas Album. That's for the lyrics.
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