Standing Stones (song)
by
Loreena McKennitt

In one of these lonely Orkney Isles
There dwelled a maiden fair.
Her cheeks were red, her eyes were blue
She had yellow curling hair.
Which caught the eye and then the heart
Of one who could never be
A lover of so true a maid
Or fair a form as she.

Across the lake in Sandwick
Dwelled a youth she held most true,
And ever since her infancy
He had watched those eyes so blue.
The land runs out into the sea -
It's a narrow neck of land -
Where weird and grim the Standing Stones
In a circle where they stand.

One bonny moonlight Christmas Eve
They met at that sad place
With her heart in glee and the beams of love
Were shining on her face.
When her lover came and he grasped her hand
What loving words they said.
They talked of future's happy days
As through the stones they strayed.

They walked toward the lovers' stone
And through it passed their hands.
They plighted there a constant troth
Sealed by love's steadfast bands.
He kissed his maid and then he watched her
That lonely bridge go o'er.
For little, little did he think
He wouldn't see his darling more.

Standing Stones of the Orkney Isles
Gazing out to sea
Standing Stones of the Orkney Isles
Bring my love to me.

He turned his face toward his home
That home he did never see.
And you shall have the story
As it was told to me.
When a form upon him sprang
With a dagger gleaming bright,
It pierced his heart and dying screams
Disturbed the silent night.

This maid had nearly reached her home
When she was startled by a cry.
She turned to look around her
And her love was standing by,
His hand was pointing to the stars
His eyes glazed at the light,
And with a smiling countenance
He vanished from her sight.

She quickly turned and home she ran
Not a word of this was said,
For well she knew at seeing his form
That her faithful love was dead.
And from that day she pined away,
Not a smile seen on her face.
With outstretched arms she went to meet him
In a brighter place.

Standing Stones of the Orkney Isles
Gazing out to sea
Standing Stones of the Orkney Isles
Bring my love to me.

The Meg Poems idea was first started as a forum thread on The Stones Mailing List in 2004 and then on TMA in March 2005. The Megalithic Poems blog was subsequently launched on the 21st September 2005. Our first poem and perhaps the oldest (1215) on things megalithic is by Layamon describing Stonehenge and beginning -

The stones are great
And magic power they have -

http://megalithicpoems.blogspot.com/2005/09/layamons-poem-brut-of-1215-describing.html

Indeed the stones are great, and certainly have had the power to capture the imagination of poets and artists throughout the centuries.

Since 2005 we've added many more poems and images on the megalithic theme in the hope that they'll become a useful resource for those interested in the poetry, art and the history of our megalithic past - none of which would be here, or on the blog, without the remarkable efforts and creativity of those who have written about megaliths or portrayed them in their work - not forgetting of course those who originally conceived and built those amazing structures!