Charm on, Goldfinch

Spell Songs is a musical evolution of both The Lost Words & The Lost Spells books by acclaimed author Robert Macfarlane and award-winning illustrator Jackie Morris; featuring the multifaceted talents and collaborative genius of Karine Polwart, Julie Fowlis, Seckou Keita, Kris Drever, Rachel Newton, Beth Porter and Jim Molyneux.

Find out more about Spell Songs and order our albums here:
https://www.thelostwords.org/spell-so...

Composed by Beth Porter, these lyrics were inspired by regular walks in Wigtown along the Martyrs’ Stake where she sees goldfinches along the path and in the trees, and by the haunting end to Robert Macfarlane's new Goldfinch Spell, which appears in our first album and forms the chorus:

Charm on Goldfinch, charm on
Heaven help us when all your
gold is gone

Jackie Morris weaves her watercolour magic in the video, conjuring goldfinches to charm us all. The video was filmed at Jackie's Pembrokeshire studio and produced by Ben Davis

Golden light in dark times, the promise of hope, the potential for loss and regret are all woven through a multi–instrumental, multi-vocal piece which builds from a simple whistled tune accompanied by goldfinch song.

The Lost Words: Spell Songs (2019)
Charm on, Goldfinch

All along the bay
Where the old railway
Used to lie
You can find

A martyr in a marsh
It’s a path we take
Goldfinch in its wake
Gilds with grace

Spring-tide high
Red head you fly
In and out of sight
Little gifts of light

Tracks forever change
And the season fades
Goodbye to the sun
Goodbye Golden One

Charm on Goldfinch, charm on
Heaven help us when all your
gold is gone

Charm on Goldfinch, charm on
Heaven help us when all your
gold is gone

Find out more about Spell Songs and order our albums here:
https://www.thelostwords.org/spell-so...