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about

The first in our collaboration of classic English and Scottish popular 3-500 year old Child Ballads. Full album due soon. Inspired by the novel "Thomas Rhymer" by Gregory Frost.

lyrics

True Thomas lay on Huntlie bank,
A marvel he spied with his eye,
And there he saw a lady bright
Come riding down by the Eildon Tree.
Her skirt was of the grass-green silk,
Her mantle of the velvet fine.
And matted on her horse's mane
Hung fifty silver bells and nine.
True Thomas he pulled off his cap
And bended low down to his knee:
“All hail, thou mighty Queen o Heaven!
For thy peer on earth I never did see.”
“O no, o no, Thomas,” she said,
“That name does not belong to me;
I am but the queen of fair Elfland
That am hither come to visit thee.”
“Harp and carp, Thomas,” she said,
“Harp and carp along with me.
And if ye dare to kiss my lips,
Sure of your body I will be.”
“Betide me weal, betide me woe,
That weird shall never tame me.”
Next he has kissed her rosy lips
All underneath the Eildon Tree.
“Now ye must go with me,” she said,
“True Thomas, ye must go with me.
And ye must serve me seven years
Through weal and woe, as may chance to be.”
She mounted on her milk-white steed,
She's taken True Thomas up behind.
And aye whenever her bridle rung
The steed flew faster than the wind.

O they rode on and farther on,
The steed went swifter than the wind,
Until they reached a desert wide
And living land was left behind.
“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 wonders three.
“O see ye not yon narrow road
So thick beset with thorns and briars?
That is the path of righteousness,
Tho' after it but few enquires.
“And see ye not that narrow road
That lies across that lily leven?
That is the path of wickedness,
Tho' some call it the road to heaven.
“And see ye not that bonny road
That winds about the fernie brae?
That is the road to fair Elfland
Where thou and I this night must go.
“But, Thomas, ye must hold your tongue
Whatever ye may hear or see.
For if you speak word in Elfyn land
Ye'll never get back to your own country.”
Next they came on to a garden green,
And she pulled an apple from a tree:
“Take this for thy wages, True Thomas
It will give ye the tongue that can never lie.”
“My tongue is mine own,” True Thomas said,
“A goodly gift ye would give to me!
I neither thought to buy or sell,
At fair or tryst where I may be.
“I neither speak to prince or peer

Nor ask of grace from fair lady.”
“Now hold thy peace,”, the lady said,
“For as I say, so must it be.”
He has gotten a coat of the even cloth
And a pair of shoes of velvet green,
And till seven years were gone and past
True Thomas on earth was never seen.

credits

released December 4, 2023
All instruments by Ed and Henry. Vocals by Ed.

Mixed by Ed. Mastered by Bob Olhsson

license

all rights reserved

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about

Ed Pettersen image

Ed Pettersen Nashville, Tennessee

Ed Pettersen has earned respect for his own Folk/Americana albums, but it is his nine year effort behind the production of the 3-CD, 50-song compilation Song of America and frequent jazz/free improv collaborations that have garnered him international recognition. His songs have been recorded by Bettye LaVette and Candi Staton among others. ... more

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