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Ffynone

by Selena Mara

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about

I write this song in 1996 after spending a few months living in a very special valley in West Wales. It was known as the valley of Ffynone, in the forest of Glyn Cych. There is an incredible waterfall there which divers have never found the bottom of.

It is believed to be the location of one of the tales of the Mabinogion, in which Prince Pwyll of Dyfed goes hunting and meets King Arawn, Lord of the underworld.

This valley used to be natural oak woodland but it was mostly cut down in the early 1900's and replaced with conifer plantations. While I was there there was yet more unnecessary felling of some beautiful mature ash trees.

I lived in those woods for a whole winter, and the current events wove together with ancient legends and with my imagination, and yielded this song.

I hope you enjoy it.

lyrics

Lyrics:

Ffynone, here the bluebell fairies weep
For Lady Ashes, felled in dreaming sleep
To man, it seems, the lives of trees are cheap
Here in Ffynone, part of old Glyn Cych

Grandmother Oak, Grandfather Oak are few
Too many oaken siblings here were hewn
Their giant bones lie down beneath the new
Dark lines of spruces, here no life but grief

Let me tell you a story of old times
Let me tell you a story that’s new
Let me tell you a story of real lives
Let me tell you a story that’s true

Once long ago the forest here was bright
Her tapestry of green grew out of sight
Below her shady crown in green-gold light
Upon each bough sang birds and birds untold

Great stags there leapt, white deer there leapt and bound
Of every colour flowers grew around
This was the old Welsh Princes’ hunting ground
And hence my tale continues to unfold

Chorus

I called the muse, the muse from caverns deep
She lies beneath the falls in greenest sleep
She rises in her ark between the steep
Rocks of the gateway to the underworld

She whispers, ‘listen to the water-song
Her wisdom ancient sings down ages long
That very source is in you deep and strong
Your answers all lie there to be unfurled’

Chorus

Ffynone is her name and this her song
And with the King Arawn she dances on
Two spirits of this valley work as one
Human creatures now take heed from story-lore

To watch their dance, their love that makes things whole
Have reverence for trees respect them all
To let these living spirits guide our role
And return to an enchanted world we’re sure x2

credits

released May 1, 2020
Thanks to Nathan Lewis Williams for recording this for me, in Glastonbury in 2005. And thanks to Laura Sky storyteller for helping me fine-tune some of the lyrics of this song.

Image by Enrique Meseguer from Pixabay

To get more regular updates and inspiration from me, see videos and hear my livestreams, please visit my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/SelenaMaraSongstress

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Selena Mara image

Selena Mara Totnes, UK

Enchanting Singer-Songwriter Selena Mara creates a magical vibe with her sparkling Celtic Indie Folk songs.

Selena captivates audiences with her rich and uplifting voice and accompanying mandolin.

From earthy and enchanting, to stomping, fun and funky, Selena’s varied songs emerge from and help grow the worldwide, empowered, eco-conscious movement of activists and community-builders. ... more

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