#cailleachalbum #folklore #acoustic #acousticonetake #singersongwriter #personwithpiano This is the first song I ever wrote for An Cailleach. This story involves a yearly trek she must make to bathe her face from a specific body of water before the sun rises (usually on Bealtaine) without anyone seeing her. On this specific day, a shepherd's dog hears An Cailleach as she walks past and barks, banishing her from the land of humans to the Otherworld. I was just a baby pagan and hearing this story aligned with my own experience of liminality, which got wrapped up into this song as well. To add even more, the rocking 6/8 timing was chosen to emulate 'waulking songs' from Scotland. The process of fulling wool involves a group of people around the table 'waulking' the wool and singing helps keep everyone coordinated. As An Cailleach is known for her walking journeys and being able to walk very far indeed (stay tuned for another song) I liked putting it all together. It's kind of a pun.

The path down to the river Is swept by tears of rain And I must travel thither My youth to reclaim

I leave in early morning Before the rising sun I must drink from the river 'Ere the day's begun

I walk between, I walk between Moonset and sunrise Where the air is thin and dreams begin I walk between the land and sea And sing to starry skies

My feet carry me onwards Unknowing in the dark And at the shepherd's threshold I hear the fatal bark

My hands snatch at the grasses My teeth snap at the leaves Torn through the veil of greening You cannot hear me scream

I walk between, I walk between Moonset and sunrise Where the air is thin and dreams begin I walk between the land and sea And sing to starry skies

The Tor is now my hovel And winter is my cloak I shriek and cry and struggle At the misty moat

To see once more my sisters To run through fields of grain To strip away my frozen veil And see you once again

I walk between, I walk between Moonset and sunrise Where the air is thin and dreams begin I walk between the land and sea And sing to starry skies

I walk between, I walk between Moonset and sunrise Where the air is thin and dreams begin Where once I was the only one, Now under watchful eyes