Liss's Song

[A young woman rides up to a castle.]

[spoken:] Hello, the fort!

[Tune 1, major]
I bring word from the castle and news from the town.
My horse needs his feed and a good rubbing-down.
Some twenty-two miles I have ridden today,
And early tomorrow I'll be on my way.

[Tune 2; minor]
I was born in a village of shepherds,
    Shepherds and horses and sheep.
Pasturing, stabling, shearing and spinning,
All day with my sisters, all night in my sleep!
[major]
    Till the day that a fortunate errand
    Brought a courier lass to our town,
        And I hugged my kid sister
        And said, as I kissed her goodbye,
        "Now you'll get all the best hand-me-downs."
And I jumped up behind and was gone without turning around.

[minor]
Now I ride for the king and his courtiers,
    Sometimes for the governors too.
When the tabard I wear shows the errand I bear
No one else in the world can tell me what to do.
[major]
    And I love riding over the country
    With the scenery different each day.
        It's the best work I know.
        If you ask me how so,
        I'll just grin and I'll answer what I always say:
"People give me fast horses to ride and get out of my way!"

[Tune 1]
Your reply to the king is sealed safe in my pack
And a sprinkle of rain never yet held me back.
My thanks for your courtesy, table, and bed.
The drawbridge is down and the road is ahead...