Buttercup's Lament

Performed by Marc Gunn
from Soul of a Harper

 

words and music by Marc Gunn

There's a leaf on a tree and it's swaying
And a girl 'neath the tree tears in her eyes.
There's a wolf on the run saying 'Where have ye gone?'
'Oh where have ye gone sweet love of mine.'

Oh wind, cruel wind, bring and end, an end
To the storm that took me love afore his time
Oh wind, cruel wind, bring and end, an end
I long for him. Will ye bring my true love back to me side

There's a puddle on the ground and it's growing
And a girl above the pond tears in her eyes
There's a fox on the run saying 'Where have ye gone?'
'Oh where have ye gone sweet love of mine.'

There's a woman on the run saying, 'Where have ye gone?
Oh where have ye gone sweet love of mine?
Oh where have ye gone sweet love of mine?
Oh where oh where? I long for ye here.
Oh where have ye gone sweet love of mine?

Chords: KEY C

verse:
C-G-C G
C C C
C G Am
C-G-C G
Dm-C-G-C
C-G-C G Am

chorus:
C G
C G
C G Am
C G
C G
C-G-C G Am

Background: I wrote this song in December 2000. It began with the idea of a woman who's True Love was lost at sea. But as the story developed, it reminded me of Buttercup's "True Love"--Wesley--in the cult classic, "The Princess Bride"a, so I named it after her. It's a sad, but beautiful song, sung great a cappella or as I play it, with a solo autoharp.