There's a piercing wintry breeze Blowing through the budding trees And I button up my coat to keep me warm But the days are on the mend And I'm on the road again With my fiddle snuggled close beneath my arm [Chorus] I've a fine, felt hat And a strong pair of brogues I have rosin in my pocket for my bow O my fiddle strings are new And I've learned a tune or two So, I'm well prepared to ramble and must go I'm as happy as a king When I catch a breath of spring And the grass is turning green as winter ends And the geese are on the wing And the thrushes start to sing And I'm headed down the road to see my friends [Chorus] I have friends in every town As I wander up and down Making music at the markets and the fairs Through the donkeys and the creels And the farmers making deals And the yellow headed tinkers selling wares [Chorus] Here's a health to one and all To the big and to the small To the rich and poor alike and foe and friends And when I return again May our foes have turned to friends And may peace and joy be with you until then [Chorus]

Epiphany was composed in a single bout of songwriting, passing very quickly from inspiration to execution, and this unusually smooth process of revelation prompted the title. It is included on Vince’s fifteenth album, Dulce Melos.

"I'll be in the garden I went to see if you were someone said they saw you leaving, kissing the gardener Why do you call at all? Can't go out tonight I'm not well and my car is sick someone said they saw you dancing with your mechanic Why do you call at all? You always call (say, what you doing now?) Someone somehow (knows who you're doing now) Meet me at the circus you were nowhere to be found someone said they saw you leaving and kissing some clown Why do you, why do you, why do you call at all?

Quantas Sabedes Amar Amigo is one of the Cantigas de Amigo, a collection of songs from the 13th century in Spain. Written by Martin Codax, it translates, "All you who are friends of love, come with me to the seas at Vigo, where we will bathe in the waves. All you who have known love, Come with me to Vigo, where we will swim in the lifting sea." --- Quantas sabedes amar amigo, treides comig'a lo mar de vigo: E bañar nos emos nas ondas! Quantas sabedes amare amado, treides comig'a lo mar levado: E bañar nos emos nas ondas! Treides comig'a lo mar de vigo e veeremo'lo meu amigo: E bañar nos emos nas ondas! Treides comig'a lo mar levado e veeremo'lo meu amado: E bañar nos emos nas ondas!

A cold pint of stout wouldn't do me any harm A cold pint of stout wouldn't do me any harm A cold pint of stout wouldn't do me any harm And we'll all hang on behind A whole pot of coffee wouldn't do me any harm A whole pot of coffee wouldn't do me any harm A whole pot of coffee wouldn't do me any harm And we'll all hang on behind A bottle full o' whiskey wouldn't do me any harm A bottle full o' whiskey wouldn't do me any harm A bottle full o' whiskey wouldn't do me any harm And we'll all hang on behind And we'll roll the old revelry along! we'll roll the old revelry along! we'll roll the old revelry along! And we'll all hang on behind That couple in the back wouldn't do me any harm That couple in the front wouldn't do me any harm That couple on the side wouldn't do me any harm And we'll all hang on behind Our hot consenting friends wouldn't do me any harm Our hot consenting friends wouldn't do me any harm Our hot consenting friends wouldn't do me any harm And we'll all hang on behind A roller derby team wouldn't do me any harm A roller derby team wouldn't do me any harm A roller derby team wouldn't do me any harm And we'll all hang on behind And we'll roll the old revelry along! we'll roll the old revelry along! we'll roll the old revelry along! And we'll all hang on behind A bowl of prophylactics wouldn't do us any harm A bowl of prophylactics wouldn't do us any harm A bowl of prophylactics wouldn't do us any harm And we'll all hang on behind A Saint Andrew's Cross wouldn't do us any harm A Saint Andrew's Cross wouldn't do us any harm A Saint Andrew's Cross wouldn't do us any harm And we'll all hang on behind A chance to use my strap-on wouldn't do us any harm A chance to use my strap-on wouldn't do us any harm A chance to use my strap-on wouldn't do us any harm And we'll all hang on behind And we'll roll the old bacchanal along! we'll roll the old bacchanal along! we'll roll the old bacchanal along! And we'll all hang on behind "Or in the front or off to the side, or really just stick us anywhere there's room, we'll fit!" And we'll roll the old bacchanal along! we'll roll the old bacchanal along! we'll roll the old bacchanal along! And we'll all hang on behind! And we'll roll the old bacchanal along! we'll roll the old bacchanal along! we'll roll the old bacchanal along! And we'll all hang on behind

Perfectly Spherical Duck was composed by my husband Cyrus Rua, although I took part in arranging it for harp and the variations. Cyrus didn't have a name for the piece, but I thought it had a whimsical quality, and I'd had this title bouncing around in my head since Physics 101 without anything to attach it to. I always knew it was going to be an ensemble piece, and at the time I was in the Chicago area, so my first choice was my friend and frequent collaborator, Michi Regier, for violin. We filled it out with Brad Collier on guitar and Cyrus' good friend, Glenn Rios, provided the percussion. This is one of the only tracks I've ever recorded where I handed over the final edit and mix. I edited the harp part, but the rest is Cyrus since he wrote the tune and I thought he had a better vision for it.

“The Yew Tree” is a tale of the Celtic tree of death and resurrection. This is the story of a thousand years of Scottish History told from the perspective of one tree outside of Pencaitland that has stood for the entire millennia, watching over it all. --- A mile frae Pencaitland, on the road tae the sea, Stands a yew tree a thousand years auld, The auld people swear by the gray o their hair That it knows what the future will hold, For the shadows of Scotland stand round it,'midst the kail an the corn an the kye -Aa the hopes an the fears of a thousand long years, Under the Lothian sky. My bonnie yew tree, tell me what did you see? Did you look through the haze o the lang simmer's days, Tae the south an the far English border? Aa the bonnets o steel on Flodden's far field, Did they march by your side in guid order? Did you ask them the price o their glory When you heard the great slaughter begin? For the dust o their bones Would rise up from the stones Tae bring tears tae the eyes o the wind. My bonnie yew tree, tell me what did you see? Did ye no think tae tell when John Knox himsel Preached under your branches sae black Tae the puir common folk who would cast off the yoke O the bishops an priests fae their backs? But you knew the bargain he sold them An freedom was only one part, For the price o their souls was a gospel sae cold It would freeze aa the joy in their hearts. My bonnie yew tree, tell me what did you see? I thought as I stood an laid hands on your wood That it might be a kindness tae fell you. One kiss o the axe an you're freed fae the wracks O the sad, bloody tales that men tell you. But a wee bird flew out from your branches An sang out as never before, An the words o the song were a thousand years long Let's learn them before many more. My bonnie yew tree, tell me what can you see? - The Yew Tree was originally recorded by the Battlefield Band.

The Beast Wooshay and the Origin of Elven Souls is simultaneously Joshua Safford’s origin story and love letter to friends whose enthusiasm and imagination propelled him into a life of fantasy. It is the central myth in a mock elven cult created by Joshua Safford and his friends in their teens and early twenties. It spontaneously emerged from male bonding and meat and awoke the spirit of the storyteller. It was often told around the fire prior to doing elven rituals that were simultaneously imaginatively evocative and very silly.

A song that has been percolating for nearly 10 years, and found its fruition during the Covid Lockdown, when we all came to appreciate the power of song. ... Oh I’m feeling heavy hearted, so I’ll sing I’m feeling heavy hearted, so I’ll sing I’m feeling heavy hearted, but now the song has started When I’m feeling heavy hearted I will sing Chorus: I will sing, and I’ll sing, and I’ll sing Oh you never know what tomorrow may bring Oh there’s never so much wrong It can’t be cured with a song Till I find where I belong I will sing Sometimes I feel so lonely, so I’ll sing Sometimes I feel so lonely, so I’ll sing Sometimes I feel so lonely, Like a hole has opened below me When I’m feeling so lonely, I will sing [Chorus] Oh you know I woke up tired, so I’ll sing you know I woke up tired, so I’ll sing Some days I feel so tired, So I’ll sing till I’m inspired Oh when I feel this tired, I will sing [Chorus] Oh I know it will get better, so I’ll sing I know it will get better, so I’ll sing Oh I know it will get better, we’ll make it so, together, Yes we will make it better, so I’ll sing [Chorus] I will sing...

The Owlbear Song was not the first gamer song composed by Dan the Bard, but it is by far the most requested. It was inspired by the 1st Edition D&D druid spell, Reincarnation. In fact, random die rolls influence a significant number of Dan’s songs! The Owlbear Song Spoken: I want to be serious for a moment, I want to sing a song about spirituality…a song about…reincarnation… Refrain Have you hugged an owlbear today? Has an owlbear hugged you? Have you felt its beak, and it’s fur feathered arms, rip your body in two? Verse 1 As I went walking one morning in August, through dark and perilous woods, through sun-dappled groves I casually did rove, and there an owlbear stood. It’s fine fur and feathers were chestnut and tan. It’s beak was as yellow as hay. It stood ten foot two, and then said Hoo! Hoo! Cuz’ that’s all that owlbears say. Refrain Verse 2 The Owlbear saw me and charged like…an owlbear I offered him rations of cheddar. He hugged me instead, and big off my head, but as you can see I got better. It ripped off my arms with a sickening raaarrghhshshhah! …tore off my legs at the femur. A Druid came by, and said, my oh my! I’ll have to deal with this later. Refrain. Spoken: but this isn’t a song about owlbears…it’s a song about reincarnation. Verse 3 When I awoke, the druid said, “Son, the owlbear gave ye a killing! But here’s the thing, now you’re a halfling, we’ll try again in the morning. And the owlbear gave me a hug every day, and reincarnated was I, But recycling your soul, soon took it’s toll, my mind sometimes wanders….Refrain. Verse 4 I have been reincarnated so much, I should have signed the DNR (do not reincarnate), I’ve been a gnu, a gnoll, a gnome, a bear and a bug…and a bugbear. I once was a tree and a ranger axed me, into some tables and chairs, I once was an elf, but now I’m myself, singing a song about owlbears. Refrain.

I'm feeling rather fortunate, as a wagon's rolling wheels So send me hopeful tidings and drop pennies at my heels I'm just a humble singer, but I say by God above I'll let the whole world hear me name all the things we love. Well in case you haven't noticed, we're all just gathered here And some are sipping apple juice while some are drinking beer So raise a glass and make a toast to whatever you please And we'll plan a lovely feast that they will smell across the seas. We'll have shepherd's pie and sausages and oranges from Spain And beef stew and colcannon and--shepherd's pie again! And strawberries and raspberries and apple pie for sure And did I mention shepherd's pie? It's melancholy's cure! We'll board a ship without a thought all floating on the sea And take the captain hostage in an act of piracy We'll take his silly parrot and we'll teach it how to dance And watch it win a contest up against the Queen of France. We'll borrow a few horses and ride to London town And sing of jars of whiskey and stars of the county down In Dublin we will meet the ghost of sweet Molly Malone While buying loads of shepherd's pie with every coin we own. I'm feeling rather fortunate, as a wagon's rolling wheels So send me hopeful tidings and drop pennies at my heels I'm just a humble singer, but I say by God above I'll let the whole world hear me name all the things we love. I'll let the whole world hear me name all the things we love. I'm feeling rather fortunate, I'd like some shepherd's pie.

One of my favorite films of all-time is Mary Poppins, and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” is one of the most perfect, convoluted nonsense songs that has ever been devised. My great and good friend, the writer Dan Wentzel, came up with this version: combining our shared love of The Bard, Disney songs, and sheer absurdity. I hope that you sing along — and then use it in your classrooms to teach Shakespeare the way it was meant to be taught: with absurdity. --- It’s a super convoluted plot that no one really cares for. When I wrote it down I got a lot of hostile stares for It’s the kind of thing you’d exit pursued by a bear for. A super convoluted plot that no one really cares for. (I’m getting married or I’m gonna die!) (I’m getting married or I’m gonna die!) Because me uncle killed me dad and married my sweet mother I set sail that day with my identical twin brother. Our ship went down, we wound up separated from each other I met a guy in Venice and his girlfriend he did smother. It’s a super convoluted plot that no one really cares for. When I wrote it down I got a lot of hostile stares for It’s the kind of thing you’d exit pursued by a bear for. A super convoluted plot that no one really cares for. (I’m getting married or I’m gonna die!) (I’m getting married or I’m gonna die!) I travelled all around the world. My money was all spent. I wound up in Verona where I met two clever gents. Their sister drank a potion and pretended to be dead Switched places with a prostitute and wound up in my bed. It’s a super convoluted plot that no one really cares for. When I wrote it down I got a lot of hostile stares for It’s the kind of thing you’d exit pursued by a bear for. A super convoluted plot that no one really cares for. (I’m getting married or I’m gonna die!) (I’m getting married or I’m gonna die!) So when thrice brindled cat hath mewed, there’s no need to dismay. Just check your watch and ask yourself “Just how long is this play?” But if this is the dumbest thing you’ve heard in all your lives. Just trust me, it’s not half as stupid as the Merry Wives! It’s a super convoluted plot that no one really cares for. When I wrote it down I got a lot of hostile stares for It’s the kind of thing you’d exit pursued by a bear for. A super convoluted plot that no one really cares for. (I’m getting married or I’m gonna die!) (I’m getting married or I’m gonna die!)

A heartbeat don’t sleep till you’re dead When the moon is rising it calls me from my bed Oh the day is long, and the world is putting Weight down on my feet I got a fierce desire to break them free A heartbeat melody’s in my head (I am the night sky, limitless and terrifying) The seasons turn once again (Come find me in the woods tonight) But before another day goes on I’m breaking out and moving on I’m leaving all the darkness behind (Behind) Now the fire’s burning The skirts are turning Your dark words melting away There’s a drum beat seeping into my bones Melting the ice and softening stone And the melody of the night keeps calling me Louder and louder and louder I wanna run wild I wanna run free I wanna move like the stars are a part of me Give in and reach out Fly away with me No one can stop us now I wanna run, run wild Run wild I wanna run, run wild Run wild Turn, turn, mountain, turn Toss your worry, watch it burn Ease your way into the ground And give in to the mighty sound Let the darkness wash away Leave it for another day Feel the rhythm fill the night For young and old and child alike Shake your head, stomp your feet We’re grooving to a grander beat Turn your mind off, stop and feel The beat and harmony is real There’s no day, no night So dance until your soul’s alight Don’t be fearful, don’t be mild We’re running free, we’re running wild Turn mountain turn, stomp your feet (I am the sunrise, limitless and terrifying) We are but children of the beat (Come find us in the woods tonight) But before the nighttime turns to day I’ll let the melody take way I’m leaving reservations behind (Behind) Now the sun is rising It’s energizing The shadows are melting away There’s a drum beat breaking into my bones Crushing the ice and crumbling stone And the melody of the night keeps calling me Louder and louder and louder I wanna run wild I wanna run free I wanna move like the stars are a part of me Give in and reach out Fly away with me No one can stop us now I wanna run, run wild Run wild I wanna run, run wild Run wild