highland reaper

The Solitary Reaper

BEHOLD her, single in the field,
Yon solitary Highland Lass!
Reaping and singing by herself;
Stop here, or gently pass!
Alone she cuts and binds the grain,	5
And sings a melancholy strain;
O listen! for the Vale profound
Is overflowing with the sound.
No Nightingale did ever chaunt
More welcome notes to weary bands	10
Of travellers in some shady haunt,
Among Arabian sands:
A voice so thrilling ne'er was heard
In spring-time from the Cuckoo-bird,
Breaking the silence of the seas	15
Among the farthest Hebrides.
Will no one tell me what she sings?—
Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow
For old, unhappy, far-off things,
And battles long ago:	20
Or is it some more humble lay,
Familiar matter of to-day?
Some natural sorrow, loss, or pain,
That has been, and may be again?
Whate'er the theme, the Maiden sang	25
As if her song could have no ending;
I saw her singing at her work,
And o'er the sickle bending;—
I listen'd, motionless and still;
And, as I mounted up the hill,	30
The music in my heart I bore,
Long after it was heard no more. I used parts of this poem and wrote a new song based on it recently.  Here it is: Highland Reaper v1    C                F            behold her, single in the field,     C                 G scattered highland reaper,,   c               F alone she cuts and binds the grain  g          C and sings a melacholy strain v2 will no one tell me what she sings perhaps of plaintive far off things or some more humble pain which may be or be again chorus dm              em                she wears a coat of blue f                  g oh too deep,  oh too true dm              em  f                 g more than I can find     V3 F C  she sang her song as it had no ending as when she cut and binds the grain and I listened motionless and still as the song came through the hills V4 when I think over those days through the earth’s fire and flame the music echoing tthrough the trees and the song came through the hills It's gonna be a huge hit.  (well, that would actually be a drag because I'd get accosted by fans....)