MOON CRADLE

Words by Padraic Collum, arranged by Loreena McKennitt, Music by Loreena McKennitt

The moon-cradle's rocking and rocking
Where a cloud and a cloud go by
Silently rocking and rocking
The moon-cradle out in the sky.
 [bad word] the lad with the hazel
And the folding star's in the rack
"Night's a good herd to the cattle,"
He sings, "She brings all things back."

But the bond woman down by the boorie
Sings with a heart grown wild
How a hundred rivers are flowing
Between herself and her child.

"The geese, even they [bad word] homeward
That have their wings and the waste
Let your thoughts be on Night the Herder
And be quiet for a space."

The moon-cradle's rocking and rocking
Where a cloud and a cloud go by
Silently rocking and rocking
The moon-cradle out in the sky.

The snipe they are crying and crying
Liadine, liadine, liadine
Where no track's on the bog they are flying
lonely dream will be mine!