61. The Wiccan Rede Long (Full) Version Folk Song Arrangement LYRICS ONSCREEN - Sumerias Fain

And now on the folkier side of things, The Wiccan Rede. Although it has its share of archaisms, inversions, and forced rhyme generally frowned upon by many of the hoity-toities these days, I've certainly read it more than anything Longfellow ever wrote. It definitely has an enduring quality and has influenced Wicca and the vastness that is New Age immeasurably. Even though I didn't write the lyrics (the author is still the subject of debate), this took longer to finish than any other song a day, mostly due to the construction and recording of the melodies, which always slow me down and which hopefully aren't too horrid. On the pronunciation... I attempted to pronounce the sabbats "correctly" (there seem to be many correct ways) , even when it interferes with the rhyme scheme, as in the line ending with Samhain, which would require a "Sam Hane" sorta pronunciation to complete the rhyme. The "ye"s I pronounced as "the" when functioning as definite articles, and "ye" when pronouns. Now I'm finally going to blessed bed.

Update for 1/12/12: Thanks everyone for pushing this up over 1000 views. I really appreciate your support. When I recorded this, it was really a watershed moment for me. This song forever changed the way I write music and sing, and I'm giddy that so many people have visited. Blessed be!

The Wiccan Rede

Bide ye Wiccan laws you must,
In perfect love and perfect trust.
Live ye must and let to live,
Fairly take and fairly give.
 
Tread the circle thrice about
To keep unwelcome spirits out.
To bind ye spell well every time,
Let the spell be spake in rhyme.
 
Light of eye and soft of touch,
Speak ye little, listen much.
Honor the Old Ones in deed and name,
Let love and light be our guides again.
 
Doesil go by the waxing moon,
Sing and dance ye Wiccan Rune.
Widdershins go when the moon doth wane,
And the werewolf howls by the dread wolfsbane.
--- 
When ye Lady's moon is new,
Kiss ye hand to her times two.
When ye moon rides at her peak,
Then ye heart's desire seek.
 
Heed the north winds mighty gale,
Lock the door and trim the sail.
When the wind blows from the East,
Expect the new and set the feast.
 
When the wind comes from the South,
Love will kiss thee on the mouth.
When the West wind blows over thee,
Departed souls will restless be.
--- 
Nine woods 'neath the Cauldron go,
Burn them fast and burn them slow.
Birch into fire goes
To represent what the Lady knows.
 
Oak in the forest towers with might,
In the fire it brings the God's insight.
Rowan is a tree of power,
Causing life and magick to flower.
 
Willows at the waterside stand,
Ready to help us to the Summerland.
Hawthorn is burned to purify,
And to draw the faerie to thine eye.
 
Hazel, the tree of wisdom and learning,
Adds its strength to the bright fire burning.
White are the flowers of Apple tree,
That brings us fruits of fertility.
--- 
Grapes grow on the vine,
Giving us both joy and wine.
Fir does mark the evergreen
To represent immortality seen.
 
Elder is the Lady's tree;
Harm it not or cursed you'll be.
Four times the Major Sabbats mark,
Both in the light and in the dark.
 
As the old year starts to wane,
The new begin's - its now Samhain.
When the time for Imbolic shows,
Watch for flowers through the snows.
--- 
When the wheel begins to turn,
Soon ye Beltane fires will burn.
As the wheel turns to Lammas night,
Power is brought to magick rite.
 
Four times the Minor Sabbats fall;
Use the Sun to mark them all.
When the wheel hath turned to Yule,
Light the log the Horned One rules.
 
In the spring, when the night equals day,
'Tis time for Ostara to come our way.
When the Sun has reached its height,
'Tis time for Oak and Holly to fight.
 
Harvesting comes to one and all
When the Autumn Equinox does fall.
Heed the flower, bush and tree;
By the Lady blessed you'll be.
--- 
Where the rippling waters go,
Cast a stone, the truth you'll know.
When ye have and hold a need,
Harken not to others greed.
 
With a fool no season spend,
Or be counted as his friend.
Merry meet and Merry part,
Bright the cheeks and warm the heart.




When misfortune is enow,
Wear the star upon thy brow.
True in love ye must e'er be,
Lest thy love be false to thee.
--- 
Mind ye threefold law ye should,
Three times bad and three times good.
What ye send forth comes back to ye,
So ever mind the rule of three.
 
These eight words the wiccan rede fulfill;
 An harm ye none, do what ye will.
Follow this with mind and heart,
And Merry ye meet and Merry ye part.

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[tntdynomite92]

...I like what you did, but...to be honest, the voice was not very bardic. I only got past a couple of words before I had to mute it. Sorry about that.

[sumerias1]

@tntdynomite92 Thanks! No problem on the voice. I'm not a very good singer. I think the melody is nice, but my vocals don't really do the Rede justice. I'm a bit better at singing now, and have been thinking of rerecording it, but it'd still essentially be the same voice -- just a lil' prettier. If I can figure out how to upload a file to mediafire that everyone can see, I might upload just the music without the vocals so other people with better voices can have a go. Thanks for commenting :)

[beachbumjwr]

I think is awesome. If i could make this a ringtone on my phone I would.

[sumerias1]

@beachbumjwr What a compliment! Thanks so much :)

[MentalNinja03]

The person whom wrote this was Lady Gwen Thompson. I have this version written in my Book of Shadows.

[sumerias1]

@MentalNinja03 My explanation took so much space to write, I forgot to thank you for watching :) If you have more info on this matter, I'd be interested to hear, as I'm just going off of the Wikipedia article. I'd be interested in any articles ya might come across, or that 26 line version which I was never able to find (probably from poor internet skills).

[sumerias1]

@PaganCrystal I'm glad that you love it. Your comment means a lot to me.

[sumerias1]

@MentalNinja03 I was about to ascribe it to Lady Gwen Thompson when I posted this but checked Wikipedia (not the best source of info, but when pressed for time...) first to make sure. According to the article, another version (a bit shorter at 26 lines) was published prior to Thompson's submission, and Thompson herself ascribed her version to her grandmother, who might not have been the author herself. I took the safe path and stated that the author was "a subject for debate".

[sumerias1]

@Boudiicca Thanks lots for watching!

[Boudiicca]

Love it!