Music by Loreena McKennitt

Lyrics Traditional, arr. 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 1

It's a narrow neck of land 1

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

And what loving words they said.

They talked of future's happy days,

As through the stones they straid.



They walked toward the lover's 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.



Chorus:

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 his dying screams

Disturbed the silent night.



This maid had nearly reached her home

When she was startled by a cry.

And she turned to look around her

And her love was standing by,

His hand was pointing to the stars

And 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.

And with outstreched arms she went to meet him

In a brighter place.





L.M.: Vocals, Keyboards, Harp

BRIAN HUGHES: Guitar, Electric Bass, Synthetic Textures

DAVID WOODHEAD: Mandolin

GEORGE KOLLER: Bass

OLIVER SCHROER: Violin

PATRICK HUTCHINSON: Uillean Pipes

RATESH DASJ: Tablas

AL CROSS: Percussion



Co-produced by L.;. and Brian Hughes

Mixed by Jeff Wolpert at Inception Sound, Toronto.