'The Witch In The Wood' is a fairy tale that I wrote in my early 20s. You can read it on my LJK website. (Best viewed on desktop not phone.)
This remix by Nicholas Albanis is almost identical to the CD version (with Harry Williamson) in Apple Pentacle (2005, Prikosnovénie). We bounced additional drums to the last bars to underline that the hunters were marching the woodwitch to her death. This is closer to an even earlier recording of the song with Craig McArthur at Whirled Records, mid 1980s. It was on cassettes that Australian record companies rejected, so I was glad the French label released it, 2 decades later.
'The other thing is the Queen's character. Perhaps a modern psychologist would have explained her by saying that she lived in an imaginary world. The people of Lothian only noticed that she did not live in their own world, and so they called her a witch.'
- T.H.White, 'The Witch in the Wood'
lyrics
There’s a red briar, in my garden
Dressed in fruit she carries but once a year
There’s a changeling, in my cradle
With a phantom laughter and pointed ear
There’s a black crow, at my window
With the hollow eyes of a seer – oh!
Tell me, do you know the Witch in the Wood?
Come Robin, tell me - have you seen the Witch in the Wood?
I’ve a stable, by the old tree,
And her walls of spiderthorn tangle my hair
There’s an ocean, in my cauldron
And the earth’s belly is aching for more
There’s a piper, on our hillside
If you won’t follow I’m going alone – oh!
Tell me, how to find the Witch in the Wood…
Come plover, show me – if I am the Witch in the Wood
Oh seer, you’ll wake the witch in my blood!
For I am, mother, oh I am the Witch in the Wood.
credits
from Apple Pentacle - full album 2005,
released April 1, 2021
Lyrics, Melody: Louisa John-Krol, circa 1985
Vocals, Harpsichord: Louisa John-Krol
Piping riff (Midi Flute/ Piccolo/ Recorder): played by Louisa John-Krol on Keyboard, programmed by Harry Williamson at Spring Studio for the 2005 release, based on Louisa's arrangement for an earlier recording at Whirled Records at Tullo Place with engineer Craig McArthur, 1980s.
Piano embellishments: Richard Allison
Synth Soundscaping, Triangle, other hand Percussion: Harry Williamson
Engineered by Harry Williamson, Spring Studio
Subsequent additional Percussion (marching Drums in tail bars) played & bounced to remix: Nicholas Albanis at Crustacean Creations.
Louisa is an Australian singer, composer, writer & faery storyteller who has released many albums of ethereal music on indie labels, primarily in France. She's completing a fantasy series, The Elderbrook Chronicles, with a soundtrack.
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