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Our Lady of the Swans

from Strange Little Smile by Rosi Lalor

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about

OUR LADY OF THE SWANS was inspired by a 12 week online course called Lost Rites: Ceremony and Ritual for Death and Dying, led by Alexandra Derwen. Alexandra introduced us to the ancient practice of keening. One of the many reasons I was drawn to this course is because I realised I was 'death-phobic'. The stories of grief and strength wisdom I heard healed my heart by breaking it open. I was left with a sense of profound appreciation for how brave and noble us humans can be, when we find the courage to face our pain directly.
I was so moved by the group's capacity to tell their stories that Our Lady of the Swans insisted on being spoken not sung. It felt important to let my voice be naked, without a melody to hide behind.

lyrics

Maybe you know the bridge that I live underneath
maybe you've crossed it in waking dreams or deep sleep
On the nights when the moon is full and hope is lost
I watch for the man who stops half way across

His head becomes impossibly heavy
and it makes him bow down to his heart of stone
and that stone begins to rock towards the river
until it drops into its longing, it drops into its longing
it drops into its longing for home

I dive like dolphin then
swim around him 'til I don't know when
swim around him for as long as it takes
swim around him 'til the stone breaks

Then I hold his body to me
let his pain move all the way through me
and I make all the sounds he couldn't
all the sounds a grown man shouldn't

"Don't explain" I say, "Just watch the swans.
I promise they won't make you try to carry on.
They understand, and so do I.
So does the bridge, so does the sky.
One of these swans knows you from before
from another river, another shore
where the veils were not so dense
and it was easier for you to hear yourself
and the prophets were welcome on the earth
and death was another kind of birth
the holy grail was clean water in a cup
that tasted like enough.
See how he dances like it's already spring?
Holds his head up like a queen and like a king?
Now he's reaching out to heaven with his wings.
Now he folds them in.
Now he sings."

credits

from Strange Little Smile, released July 8, 2021

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Rosi Lalor Cork, Ireland

Rosi Lalor grew up in Liverpool and now lives in County Cork. She is a storyteller and mystic at heart, with a large dose of clown thrown into the cauldron. Her song-craft is a satisfying process of resolving inner conflicts. Strange Little Smile is her second album, Flowers For The Living (available on itunes & Spotify) is her first. ... more

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