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Description
Song 9 of 10 North of the Humber
When the island of Lindisfarne was deemed too exposed a place to house the important relics and treasures of the monastic house long established there, the monks bore them off in a coffin and wandered for forty years trying to find them a new permanent home. Eventually, they settled on a loop of the River Wear, which has an island feel, where the great cathedral of Durham now stands.
The coffin contained the head of St Aidan, the complete remains of St. Cuthbert, his golden cross, and the Lindisfarne Gospels, among other oddments. St. Cuthbert’s body has remained at Durham ever since, and his cross is displayed there, along with a copy of the famous Gospels. The original is at the British Library.
When the island of Lindisfarne was deemed too exposed a place to house the important relics and treasures of the monastic house long established there, the monks bore them off in a coffin and wandered for forty years trying to find them a new permanent home. Eventually, they settled on a loop of the River Wear, which has an island feel, where the great cathedral of Durham now stands.
The coffin contained the head of St Aidan, the complete remains of St. Cuthbert, his golden cross, and the Lindisfarne Gospels, among other oddments. St. Cuthbert’s body has remained at Durham ever since, and his cross is displayed there, along with a copy of the famous Gospels. The original is at the British Library.
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Lyrics
Long Funeral
Oh, last night i dreamed, i was walking,
By a damp and a chill riverside,
When slow through the rain,
Came a funeral train,
And i asked for whose passing they sighed?
Oh we carry the load,
Of a dear brother’s bones,
And a cross and a book,
They replied,
In search of their home,
We’ve been years on the road.
But surely, said i, in the stillness,
Why so long, on the road from afar?
A dead man sleeps near,
His homestead so dear,
Why travel so far as you are!
Oh, we lost our home when,
The dragonkeels and men,
Did burn and destroy
Lindisfarne.
We took what was left,
The treasures so blest,
But who, do you bear, in the casket,
What man could be worth such a thing?
And what sort of book,
And the cross that you took,
Are so precious to you, if i ask it?
Oh, dear is the man,
And dear is the book,
Of Lindisfarne famous,
Forever,
We seek for their rest,
A place to be blest.
But how will you know, where the place is?
And how can a dead man decide?
So dark is the road,
And heavy the load,
So slow your weary old pace is.
One day you’ll see,
A great church will be,
Where Cuthbert will found,
A new island,
One day my friend,
Our sufferings will end.
Oh, last night i dreamed, i was walking,
By a damp and a chill riverside,
When slow through the rain,
Came a funeral train,
And i asked for whose passing they sighed?
Oh we carry the load,
Of a dear brother’s bones,
And a cross and a book,
They replied,
In search of their home,
We’ve been years on the road.
But surely, said i, in the stillness,
Why so long, on the road from afar?
A dead man sleeps near,
His homestead so dear,
Why travel so far as you are!
Oh, we lost our home when,
The dragonkeels and men,
Did burn and destroy
Lindisfarne.
We took what was left,
The treasures so blest,
But who, do you bear, in the casket,
What man could be worth such a thing?
And what sort of book,
And the cross that you took,
Are so precious to you, if i ask it?
Oh, dear is the man,
And dear is the book,
Of Lindisfarne famous,
Forever,
We seek for their rest,
A place to be blest.
But how will you know, where the place is?
And how can a dead man decide?
So dark is the road,
And heavy the load,
So slow your weary old pace is.
One day you’ll see,
A great church will be,
Where Cuthbert will found,
A new island,
One day my friend,
Our sufferings will end.
neilh79
.. Again this doesn't fail in its job, another lovely track, really well presented. Your tone never ceases to amaze me. Well done mate........ Is stonehenge the last in the series lol??