Here are a few Pagan songs that are popular in some of the Ottawa area groups. We don't usually use them in our rituals because they are not as easy to learn than the chants but they can be fun for Fests. Enjoy!
I shall go as a wren in spring: With sorrow and sighing on silent wing
And I shall go in our Lady's name: Aye, till I come home again
We shall follow as falcons grey: And hunt thee cruelly as our prey
And we shall go in our Master's name: Aye, to fetch thee home again
Then I shall go as a mouse in May: In fields by night and cellars by day
And I shall go in our Lady's name: Aye, till I come home again
But we shall follow as fat tom cats: And chase thee through the corn and vats
And we shall go in our Master's name: Aye, to fetch thee home again
Then I shall go as an autumn hare: With sorrow and sighing and mickle care
And I shall go in our Lady's name: Aye, till I come home again
But we shall follow as swift greyhounds: And dog thy tracks by leaps and bounds
And we shall go in our Master's name: Aye, to fetch thee home again
Then I shall go as a winter trout: With sorrow and sighing and mickle doubt
And I shall go in our Lady's name: Aye, till I come home again
But we shall follow as otters swift: And snare thee fast ere thou canst shift
And we shall go in our Master's name: Aye, to fetch thee home again
Aye, and I'll come home again
Traditional, British Isles
Breaths
Chorus: Listen more often to things than to beings
Listen more often to things than to beings
'Tis the Ancestor's breath when the fire's voice is heard
'Tis the Ancestor's breath in the voice of the water
Zah... whoshhh.... Ahh... whoshhh....
Those who have died have never never left
The dead are not under the earth
They are in the rustling trees
They are in the groaning woods
They are in the crying grass
They are in the moaning rocks
The dead are not under the earth
Chorus: So listen..
Those who have died have never never left
The dead have a pact with the living
They are in the woman's breast
They are in the wailing child
They are with us in the home
They are with use in the crowd
The dead have a pact with the living
Chorus: So listen..
Alternate parts:
1. Bum bumba bum ba bum
2. Doo doo doo doo doooo
3. Bah bah bah bah bah bah
By: Sweet Honey In The Rock
Burning Times
In the cool of the evening
They used to gather
'Neath the stars in the meadow circle
Near an old oak tree
At the times appointed by the seasons
Of the Earth and the phases of her Moon
In the center often stood a woman
Equal with the others
And respected for her worth
One of the many we called the witches
The healers and the teachers
Of the wisdom of the Earth
And the people grew
With the knowledge she gave them
Herbs to heal their bodies
Smells to make their spirits whole
Hear them chanting healing incantations
Calling for the wise ones
Celebrating in dance and song
Isis, Astarte, Diana
Hecate, Demeter, Kali, Inanna (x4)
There were those who came to power
Through domination
They were bonded in their worship
Of a dead man on a cross
They sought control
Of the common people
By demanding allegiance
To the Church of Rome
And the Pope he commenced
The inquisition
It was a war against women
Whose power they feared
In this holocaust
In this age of evil
Nine Million European women died
And the tale is told of those
Who by the hundreds
Holding hands together
Chose their deaths in the sea
While chanting praises
Of the mother Goddess
Their refusal for betrayal
Women were dying to be free
Isis, Astarte, Diana
Hecate, Demeter, Kali, Inanna (x4)
Now the Earth is a witch
And we still burn her
Stripping her down with mining
And poisoning her wells
Still to us the Earth is a healer
A teacher and a mother
A weaver of a web of light
That keeps us all alive
She gives us the vision
To see through the chaos
She gives us the courage
It is our will to survive
Isis, Astarte, Diana
Hecate, Demeter, Kali, Inanna
By: Charlie Murphy ©1991
Circles
In days gone by when the world was much younger
Man (We) wondered at spring, born of winter's cold night
Wondering at the games of the moon and the sunlight
They saw the Lady and Lord of all light
Chorus:
And around and around and around turns the good earth
And all things must change as the seasons go by
We are the children of the Lord and the Lady
Whose mysteries we know yet we'll never know why
In all lands the people were tied to the good earth
Ploughing and sowing as the seasons declared
Waiting to reap all of the rich golden harvest
Knowing her laugh in the joys that they shared
Chorus
In Flanders and Wales and the green lands of Ireland
The kingdoms of England and of Scotland and Spain
Circles grew up all along the wild coastline
And worked for the land with the sun and the rain
Chorus
Circles for healing and working the weather
Circles for knowing the moon and the sun
Circles for thanking the Lord and the Lady
Circles for dancing the dance never done
Chorus
And we who reach for stars in the heavens
Turning our backs on the fields and the groves
Still live in the love of the Lord and the Lady
Greater the circle the more the love grows
Chorus
Traditional melody of "Windmills" by Alan Bell.
Lyrics by Todd Alan
Circles (Version 2)
In days gone by, when the world was much younger,
We wondered at Spring, born or Winter's cold knife
Wondered at the games of the moon and the sunlight;
We say then the Lady and the Lord of all life!
Chorus:
Around and around and around turns the good Earth,
All things must change as the seasons roll by
We are the children of the Lord and the Lady
Whose mysteries we learn from the Earth and the Sky.
In all lands the people were tied with the good Earth;
Plowing and sowing as the seasons declared.
Waiting to reap of the rich golden harvest;
Knowing her love in the joys that they shared.
Chorus
Through Flanders and Wales and the green hills of Ireland;
In the kingdoms of England and Scotland and Spain
Circles grew up all along the wild coastlines;
They worked for the land with the sun and the rain.
Chorus
In Egypt and Sumer, through Bharat and Mali,
As N'eilla and Bast and Inanna She came
Cities grew up near the jungles and deserts;
Her own know Her still by these ancient proud names.
Chorus
On the water's far shore, some were called Anasazi;
Through tundra to desert and forest they came
Leaving circles and spirals throughout Turtle Island;
Preserving the land in the Goddess's name
Chorus
Circles for healing and working the weather
Circles for knowing the Moon and the Sun
Circles for thanking the Lord and the Lady
Circles for dancing the Dance never done.
Chorus
Traditional melody for "Windmills" by Alan Bell.
Lyrics by: Gwendolyn Lee Zak
The Goddess and the Weaver
(Refrain)
Arachnia weaves and she weaves so well
She weaves a passage where the Gods will fly
Athena laughs as she casts her spell
While she watches from her loom on high
Athena, Athena, Goddess-born lady, you're a jealous one
And Arachnia knows that you are watching her
Watching for her work to be undone
Athena, have you set the quest
Will you take the weave and will you break the weft
Or will you let this lady spin her tapestry
Of the tale untold and then set her free
Refrain
Arachne, Arachne, the Goddess Athena's got a quest for you
And you must weave a story of the Gods that rule
In all their mystery and you must tell it true
So Arachnia's woven the seven moons
She's spun the silver thread upon an apple wood loom
And she's told the story of the gods that rule
In all their mystery, and yes, she's told it true
Refrain
So Athena came to earth disguised as a crone
To gaze upon the tapestry this mortal woman's sewn
And in and out of the fabric that was stretched across the loom
The sins and the secrets of the Gods were shown
Athena, Athena, Goddess born lady you're and angry one
And as you spin your spell around Arachnia,
To shift her shape into a weaving one
And as Arachnia sits and weaves upon her web
She casts her mind back and remembers when
She told the story of the Gods that rule
In all their mystery, and she told it true
Refrain (x2)
Lyrics by: Adrienne Piggott. Music by Spiral Dance.
Gods Bless Ye Merry Paganfolk
Gods bless ye merry Paganfolk
Let nothing you afright
There's naught but peace will touch us here
On this the longest night
For our Great Mother will give birth
And turn the dark to light
Chorus:
And the wheel's turning round and round
Round and round!
And the wheel is turning round and round
Into the West's fast dimming light
The Dark God must retreat
As all of life must come at last
To death the longest sleep
But our Great Mother then gives birth
The circle is complete
Chorus
At morning's first bright ray of light
Arrives the Sun Child's birth
Returning through the Mother's womb
Life promised to the Earth
Now that our Mother's labor's done
Rejoice with song and mirth
Traditional. (God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen)
Lyrics by: Annie Burque-Webb
God Rest Ye Merry Paganfolk
God rest ye merry paganfolk
Let nothing you dismay
Remember that the Sun returns
Upon this Solstice day
The growing dark is ending now
And spring is on its way
Chorus:
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy!
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
The Goddess rest ye merry, too
And keep you safe from harm
Remember that we live within
The circle of Her arms
And may Her love give years to come
A very special charm
Chorus
Traditional. (God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen)
Lyrics by: Ellen Cannon Reed
Hymn To Her
Let me inside you into your room
I've heard it's lined with the things you don't show
Lay me beside you down on the floor
I've been your lover from the womb to the tomb
I dress as your daughter when the moon becomes round
You'll be my mother when everything's gone
Chorus:(And) she will always carry on
Something is lost something is found
We will keep on speaking her name
Some things change some stay the same
Keep beckoning to me from behind that closed door
The Maid and the Mother and the Crone that's grown old
I hear your voice coming out of that hole
I listen to you and I want some more (bis)
Chorus (bis)
Hal An Tow
Chorus:
Hal an tow, jolly rumble oh
We were up long before the day oh
To welcome in the summer
The summer and the May oh
The summer is a-comin' in
And winter's gone away oh
Since we were first created
These words have been debated
And we have celebrated
The coming of the spring
Chorus
Take no scorn to wear the horns
It was a crest when you were born
Your father's father wore it
And your father wore it too oh
Chorus
Robin Hood and Little John
Have both gone to the fair oh
And we will to the merry green wood
To hunt the buck and hare oh
Chorus
What happened to the Spaniard
That make so great a boast oh
They shall eat the feathered good
And we shall eat the roast oh
Chorus
The Lord and Lady bless you
With all their power and might oh
And send their peace upon us
Send peace to day and night oh
Chorus
Traditional, Celtic
Lord Of The Dance
I danced in the morning
When the world was begun,
And I danced in the moon
And the stars and the sun,
And I came down from heaven
And I danced on the earth,
At Bethlehem
I had my birth.
Chorus:
Dance, then, wherever you may be,
I am the Lord of the Dance, said he,
And I'll lead you all, wherever you may be,
And I'll lead you all in the Dance, said he
I danced for the scribe
And the pharisee,
But they would not dance
And they wouldn't follow me.
I danced for the fishermen,
For James and John -
They came with me
And the dance went on.
Chorus
I danced on the Sabbath
And I cured the lame;
The holy people
Said it was a shame.
They whipped and they stripped
And they hung me on high,
And they left me there
On a Cross to die.
Chorus
I danced on a Friday
When the sky turned black -
It's hard to dance
With the devil on your back.
They buried my body
And they thought I'd gone,
But I am the dance,
And I still go on.
Chorus
They cut me down
And I leapt up high;
I am the life
That'll never, never die;
I'll live in you
If you'll live in me -
I am the Lord
Of the Dance, said he.
Chorus
Traditional Shaker. Words and music by Sydney Carter
Copyright 1963 Stainer & Bell Ltd. London, England
Lord Of The Dance (version 2)
I danced in the morning when the world was begun,
I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun;
I was called from the darkness by the song of the Earth,
I joined in the singing and she gave me birth.
(Chorus)
Dance, then, wherever you may be!
I am the Lord of the Dance, said he,
And I'll lead you on, where ever you may be,
I will lead you all in the Dance, said he!
I sleep in the kernel and I dance in the rain,
I dance in the wind, and through the waving grain,
And when you cut me down, I care nothing for the pain --
In Spring I'll be Lord of the Dance again!
I see the maidens laughing as they dance in the sun,
I count the fruits of the harvest, one by one;
I know the storm is coming, but the grain is all stored,
So I sing of the dance of the Lady and the Lord.
We dance ever slower as the leaves fall and spin
And the sound of the Horn is the wailing of the wind;
The Earth is wrapped in stillness and we move in a trance,
But we hold on fast to our faith in the dance.
The sun is in the south and the days lengthen fast,
And soon we'll sing for the winter that is past,
Now we light the candles and rejoice as they burn,
And dance the dance of the sun's return!
They cut me down, but I leap up high!
I am life that will never, never die.
I'll live in you and you'll live in me --
I am the Lord of the Dance, said he!
The moon in her phases and the tides of the sea,
The movement of Earth, and the seasons that will be
Are rhythm for the dancing and a promise through the years --
The Dance goes on through joy and tears.
Words by Marty Hale-Evans --anon, Traditional Shaker, adapted.
Love Is A Celebration
Chorus:
Love is a celebration, love is
Center point of all creation, love is
So I (we) dance as the stars do dance
And I (we) circle as the sun
Love is a celebration, love is
In the silver of the moon: In the redding of the morning
In the shadow of the mountain: Love is, love is
In the singing bird of the heavens: In the singing of the water
In the turning of the seasons: Love is
Chorus
In the words that are unspoken: In the words that come unwritten
In the touch and in the vision: Love is, love is
In the turning of a corner: In the taking of a journey
In the final destination: Love is
Chorus:(bis)
May The Circle Be Unbroken
Chorus:
May the circle be unbroken: Through the seasons of rebirth
May her love join us together: All the children of the earth
And the lady in the winter: Wears a robe of silver white
And she warms us with her fire: With her spirit and her light
Chorus
And the lady in the springtime: Wears a robe of living green
And renews us with her waters: Ever living cool and clean
Chorus
And the lady in the summer: Wears a robe of shining gold
And she cools us with her breezes: Breathing love for young and old
Chorus
And the lady in the Autumn: Wears a robe of ruby red
Earth, her body overflowing: With her gifts of wine and bread
Chorus (bis)(All clap to the beat)
On Children
Your children are not your children
They are the sons and the daughters of life's longing for itself
They come through you but they are not from you
And though they are with you they belong not to you
You can give them your love but not your thoughts
They have their own thoughts, they have their own thoughts
You can house their bodies but not their souls
For their souls dwell in a place of tomorrow
That you cannot visit, not even in your dreams
You can strive to be like them but you cannot make them just like you
Strive to be like them but you cannot make them just like you
By: Kahlil Gibran
Pagan Acapella
Shoo-bee doo-op bop bop
Shoo-bee doo-op, bop shoo-bee doo-op
Shoo-bee doo-op bop bop
Shoo-bee doo-op, shoo-bee doo-op
Shoo-bee doo-op bop bop
Shoo-bee doo-op, shoo-bee doo-op
Shoo-bee doo-op bop bop
(sing that) oo-oo-oo
There's a light shining from the cauldron (oo-aa-oo)
And its shining down on me (oo-aa-oo)
There's some guys standing in the corner (oo-aa-oo)
Singin' that pagan harmony
And in the light shining from the cauldron
Shines on a circle symphony
Make us laugh, make us sing
Singin' that pagan harmony
Chorus
And we're singin' that Soul to Soul, Brother to Brother
A cappella, sounds good to me
And we're singin' that Soul to Soul, Sister to Sister
A cappella, sounds good to me
(oooo.. soul to soul, oooo.. brother to brother
oooo.. a cappella, sounds good to me)
I just want it understood
Its time we brought boogie to the neighborhood
And we're out under moonlight
Singin' (there) sunday night
We're singing that pagan a cappella
Sounds good sounds so sweet
Laugh, make 'em sing
(Singing that) pagan harmony
Chorus
(When I) turn out the lights
Cast a circle by candle light
(I'll) sing a blessing on the cakes and wine
(Let my) spirit beat in time
(I'm gonna) raise up my hands and sing to the land
That gives me just everything
Oh, Earth, hear my glee
(this music) means so much to me
Chorus
Shoo-bee doo-op bop bop
Shoo-bee doo-op, shoo-bee doo op
Shoe-bee doo-op bop bop
Shoo-bee doo-op shoo-bee doo op
Shoo-bee doo-op bop bop (Oooo,)
Shoo-bee doo-op, shoo-bee doo-op (Oo-wa oo oo oo)
Shoo-bee doo-op bop bop (Oo-wa oo oo oo)
(sing that) oo-oo-oo (Oh-oh Yeah!)
Sung to: Good Old Accapella
Lyrics by: Kate Summerbell & Circle Symphony
Solstice Carole
A Fire is burning
The long night draws near
All who need comfort
Are welcome by here
We'll dance 'neath the stars
And toast the past year
For the spirit of solstice
Is still living here
We'll count all our blessings
While the mother lays down
With the snow as her blanket
Covering the ground
Thanks to the mother
For the life that she bring
She'll waken to warm us
Again in the spring
The poor and the hungry
The sick and the lost
These are our children
No matter the cost
Come by the fire
The harvest to share
For the spirit of solstice
Is still living here
A Fire is burning
The long night draws near
All who need comfort
Are welcome by here
We'll dance 'neath the stars
And toast the past year
For the spirit of solstice
Is still living here
The spirit of solstice
Is still living here
By The Wyrd Sisters
Solstice Night
Silent night, Solstice night
All is calm, all is bright
Nature slumbers in forest and glen
Till in Sprintime She wakens again
Sleeping spirits grow strong!
Sleeping spirits grow strong!
Silent night, Solstice night
Silver moon shining bright
Snowfall blankets the slumbering Earth
Yule fires welcome the Sun's rebirth
Hark, the Light is reborn!
Hark, the Light is reborn!
Silent night, Solstice night
Quiet rest till the Light
Turning ever the rolling wheel
Brings the Winter to comfort and heal
Rest your spirit in peace!
Rest your spirit in peace!
Traditional melody (Silent Night)
Lyrics by: Ellen Cannon Reed
Testimony
There's God-like and war-like
And strong like only some show
There's sad-like and mad-like
And had like we know
Chorus:
But by my life be I spirit
And by my heart be I womyn
And by my eyes be I open
And by my hands be I whole
They say slowly brings the least shock
But no matter how slow I walk
There are traces, empty spaces
And doors and doors of locks
Chorus
You young ones, you're the next ones
I hope you choose it well
Though you try hard, you may fall pray
To the jaded jewel
Chorus (all): But by your lives be you spirit, etc..
There are waters, hidden from us
In the maze we find them still
We'll take you to them, you take your young ones
May they take their own in turn
Chorus: And by our lives be we spirit, etc..
By: Ferron
We Won't Wait Any Longer
We have trusted no man's promise
We have kept just to ourselves
We have suffered from their lies
And all the books upon their shelves
But our patience and endurance
Through the burning times and now
Have given us the strength to keep our vow
Chorus:
We won't wait any longer
We are stronger than before
We won't wait any longer
We are stronger
They have grazed away the heather
They have razed the sacred grove
They have driven native people
From the places that they've loved
Though their greed has been unbounded
They have felt the pangs of shame
Every time they trod upon the Mother's name
Chorus
Though they thought they had destroyed
The memory of the ancient way
Still the people light the balefire
Every year on solstice day
And at Beltane and at Samhain
You can find us on the hill
Invoking once again the triple will.
Chorus
Through the ages many races
Have risen and have gone
But dispersed among the nations
Of the world we linger on
Now the time has come to take
The sacred Cauldron of rebirth
And fulfil our ancient pledges to the earth
Chorus (bis)
By: Gwydion Pendderwen
Worship To The Beat
Chorus: (chanson a repondre)
We shall worship to the beat
Feel it rise up through your feet
Feel the rhythm strong and sweet
As we worship to the beat
We all worship to the beat
We pay homage to the air
Feel the wind blow through your hair
It's Her breath that we all share
When we breathe in the air
We all breathe the air
(chorus)
We pay homage to the fire
Feel the flame of your desire
Feel the heat as it grows higher
When we burn with the fire
We all burn with the fire
(chorus)
We pay homage to the waters
All your sons and all your daughters
Swim like fish and play like otters
When we flow with the waters
We all flow with the waters
(chorus)
We pay homage to the earth
She's the source of all our worth
She's the one who gave us birth
When we live on the earth
We all live on the earth
(chorus)
By: Gina Ellis.
Worship To The Beat (Version 2)
Chorus: (chanson a repondre)
And we worship to the beat (repeat)
Feel it's rhythm strong and sweet (repeat)
Feel it rising in your feet (repeat)
As we worship to the beat (repeat)
Chorus
We pay homage to the air
Feel it flowing through your hair
It's the breath that we all share
We pay homage to the air
Chorus
We pay homage to the fire
Feel the flames as they rise higher
They're the flames of our desire
We pay homage to the fire
Chorus
We pay homage to the water
All you sons and all you daughters
Swim like fish and play like otters
We pay homage to the water
Chorus
We pay homage to the earth
She's the one who gave us birth
She's the source of all our worth
We pay homage to the earth
Chorus
(Fade)
And we worship to the beat (x4)
-FIAT-
This page last updated September 22, 2005