Carlos and I stole a chance to sit down and play with the piano for a little while, and we came up with a sprightly madrigal sort of melody for this, which actually works quite well given the creepy content. I will test it out with my brother Jeremy and Faye this weekend.
I’m printing out song-sheets, so I might as well print several extras of this!
I changed the refrain and rephrased a few things for easier singing.
THE FALL OF REYNARDINE
Lyrics by C. S. E. Cooney
Music by Carlos Hernandez
“Come thou hither, miner’s daughter
With thy braids as black as night
With thy face so brown and shining
And thine eyes so full of light
Come and see my crystal castle
With its ramparts all gleam
Come and wake me from my slumber
Come and kiss thy Reynardine!”
Reynardine, Reynardine
Come and kiss your Reynardine
Deep within forest green
Come and kiss your Reynardine
What is she who grins so whitely?
What is she who calls so sweet?
Phantom vixen, shade or shadow—
Are you after love, or meat?
Sure, I am a miner’s daughter
Came my father long ago
From the highest flights of heaven
Made to dig the mines below
Reynardine, Reynardine
Come and kiss your Reynardine
Deep within forest green
Come and kiss your Reynardine
Dug he deep, and dug he deeply
Till he struck upon a stone
Till he found a maid imprisoned
Broke the rock and brought her home
So you see, your snare can’t catch me
O my clever Reynardine
For I am a miner’s daughter
And my mother is a queen
Reynardine, Reynardine
Come and kiss your Reynardine
Deep within forest green
Come and kiss your Reynardine
Yes, my mother has a castle
Crystal walls in crystal glade
Told me, “O beware, my daughter
O, beware the vixen’s shade
She will find you in the forest
Lure you to her casket stone
She will bid you break her shackles
Kiss her mouth and bring her home”
Reynardine, Reynardine
Come and kiss your Reynardine
Deep within forest green
Come and kiss your Reynardine
“And her home will be our castle
And our bowels be her bowl
She will drink your father’s heart-blood
Sipped from out your mother’s skull
Oh beware, beware my daughter
Listen to your mother queen
And do not forsake your people
For the love of Reynardine!”
Reynardine, Reynardine
Come and kiss your Reynardine
Deep within forest green
Come and kiss your Reynardine
No, my love is strong and supple
Oh, my love is fierce and wild
And she’ll meet me in this dark wood
Where we two will bide a while
Walk we two up to your casket
Kneel we there upon your stone
Pledge our love now and forever
Seal you fast to die alone
Reynardine, Reynardine
Come and kiss your Reynardine
Deep within forest green
Come and kiss your Reynardine
Die, ye shade whose will would smite us
Die, ye poison in the breast
Seven times thy spite turn on thee
Seven times put thee to rest
Then at journey’s end we’ll travel
For to see my mother queen
At her table, feast and revel
At the fall of Reynardine!
Reynardine, Reynardine
Cursed forever, Reynardine
Deep within forest green
Now is fallen Reynardine
C.S.E. Cooney 