Over the holiday, I rediscovered “Down in Yon Forest,” a mysterious old ballad that I performed at the Toronto Storytelling Festival many years ago. I stood alone on stage and sang it in a childlike a cappella voice, imagining it to be sung by an absolute innocent.
Down in yon forest there stands a hall,
the bells of paradise I heard it ring
it’s covered all over with purple and pall
and I love my Lord Jesus above anything.
This year, I dug a little more into the song. It was once called the Corpus Christi Carol, or the Falcon Carol. It had been circulating for a long time before it was first written down in 1504. At the center of the song is a knight who is lying in a hall, bleeding from his wounds. Some people believe that he is a Christ figure, and others believe him to be the Fisher King, the protector of the Grail who bleeds while his kingdom goes to waste. In the earlier version there are no bells of paradise, just a hall standing in a brown orchard and a falcon who carries a Lady’s mate away.
He bore him up, he bore him down
He bore him through the orchard brown
Lulley lullay lulley lullay
The falcon hath born my mate away.
I decided to sing the song again, and to bring both versions together to see what would happen. The song carried me into the grief in our atmosphere and ended in a surprising way. It was a strangely uplifting communion.
The Falcon's Cry
Featured image: Damsel of the Holy Grail, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, 1857
Beautiful! Thank you.
Jane
Thank you, Jane! I look forward to seeing you soon! xo
Wow, I had no idea it would be so transfixing. I was in front of the woodstove looking at the fire while I was listening. I was mesmerized and entranced. Beautifully done. Perhaps they are something like the temporal and the infinite mates.
What a great picture you create of sitting at the fire while listening to the song. This was the original recording … I did it quite a few times after but this was the first time the song lifted off. There’s a little puff of wind in the recording, right as it happens, and I don’t know where it comes from. I love your image of the temporal and infinite mates. It will stay with me. Thanks so much, Mark, keep safe and well and in good cheer. xoxo
Beautiful Mich. Transfixing as Mark said! Takes one into those stories – of Jesus and the Fisher King…and to my own “story” – the falcon hath born my mate away. Certainly touches the heart.
Sing on my dear, sing on!
Thank you for your comment, Les. I know where it comes from and I will take your encouragement to heart. xoxo