Name: Follow the Heron
Duration: P00H04M17S
Description: In the early morning, as songwriter Karine Polwart sailed home from the Shetland Folk Festival, a heron rose in front of the boat and flew ahead, inspiring this song. The heron represents the return of Spring, light after darkness, and hope after grief.

Follow the Heron

from Be Like the Sea by Syncopaths

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about

In the early morning, as songwriter Karine Polwart sailed home from the Shetland Folk Festival, a heron rose in front of the boat and flew ahead, inspiring this song. The heron represents the return of Spring, light after darkness, and hope after grief.

lyrics

LYRICS:

The back of the winter is broken
and light lingers long by the door.
And the seeds of the summer have spoken
in gowans that bloom on the shore.

(Chorus)
By night and day, we’ll sport, and we’ll play,
and delight as the dawn dances over the bay.
Sleep blows the breath of the morning away
as we follow the heron home.

In darkness, we cradled our sorrow
and stoked all our fires with fear.
Now, these bones that lie empty and hollow
are ready for gladness to cheer.

(Chorus)

So, long may you sing of the salmon,
and the snow-scented sounds of your home.
While the north wind delivers its sermon
of ice, and salt water, and stone.

(Chorus)

credits

from Be Like the Sea, released June 16, 2023
Follow the Heron: Karine Polwart, Bay Songs Ltd.
Twisted Jig: Ashley Hoyer, Eight String Press

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about

Syncopaths Culver City, California

From dance floors to concert halls, the Syncopaths bring a fresh, contemporary spin to music and songs rooted in the Scottish, Irish, and American folk traditions. The exuberant joy they derive from the music and each other is palpable and contagious. "The Syncopaths are nothing short of a Celtic supergroup." — Irish Herald, July 2011 ... more

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