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The Undertaker's Daughter

by Mama Gina

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1.
Cerridwen’s Cauldron / How to Make a Bard Stew © G. LaMonte 12/2013 I went to Cerridwen, asked for a song She said, “Love, now what will you pay?” I ran for my life and I ran for my soul She followed me anyway Once she had caught me, I never looked back And this rogue and the road became one I played for each union, I played for each end Till my own life, it almost was done BREAK My strings they were dull and my drum lost its tone And my song it was fadin’ and slow With my last bit o’ courage, I prayed to the One Who had made me a bard long ago I called to the Cauldron, I called to her Queen I bit off more than I could chew I gave to Cerridwen my soul for her Cauldron For just one more taste of her sweet bardic stew CHORUS Cerridwen’s Cauldron holds my soul Cerridwen’s Spoon stirs me round Cerridwen’s Flame warms the tale Cerridwen’s Brew, I will drink it down   Carrot and eyebright and onion and tears And a stone like the one in my heart Cider so bitter you’d think it gone bad But bitterroot’s part of the Bard Spirit of ale and a heart diced so fine That it never again shall be whole The pain and the love and the stories they tell Cerridwen stirred them all into my soul CHORUS Drip the fat from your deepest sorrow O’er medium flame to clarify Salt with fresh tears to taste, oh, to taste And pepper with laughter and turn the flame high I’ll take the sorrow and I’ll take the pain That every new tale does require For the light in their eyes and the lift in their hearts As I share my song round the fire CHORUS I went to Cerridwen, asked for a song She said, “Love, now what will you pay?” I ran for my life and I ran for my soul She followed straight to my grave Once she had caught me, I never looked back And this rogue and the road became one I played for the union, I played for the end Ah, till my own life was done CHORUS
2.
The Undertaker’s Daughter by Gina LaMonte CHORUS: The secrets that we keep – and the stories we half-tell And the tiny holes we leave along the way We teach our sons and daughters – to love as best we can But we really shape our children – with the things that we can’t say His father died when he was three - Oh, the whispers on the grave They didn’t think he’d understand - So they never did explain The young man looked for answers - That he couldn’t find at home So he made it up as we all do - As he went along No one ever taught him – how to say goodbye So he made it his life’s mission – to witness as they cried He held the hands of widows – as he walked them to the edge Watched them drop their rings and roses on their loved ones’ final beds CHORUS I’m the undertaker’s daughter - I grew up with the dead Peeked inside their coffins - Touched the pillows ‘neath their heads I still hear my Daddy’s voice - In the silence all around “We’re here for the living.” - Then he left without a sound And so I looked for answers – in every holy book I made it up – as I went along With all the things that I had learned – words were not enough I prayed that my heart would find my song CHORUS My father and my only son - Gave each other what I lacked I watched them grow old and young - Till that final heart attack No words for the love we shared - There’s so much that I will never know I sat my child down - Told him Grandpa had to go I handed him my father’s ring – told him he was now a man Didn’t know how not to break his heart I hope he’ll find the answers – the best way that he can ‘Cause God knows, I don’t know where to start CHORUS
3.
Invocation for Nut I am indigo – I am night Embracing your souls – each one is a light I hold your true nature – when you’re ready to know When you’re ready, look up and let go Call me Arc of Heaven And Lady of the Stars I am Mistress of All And She Who Bore the Gods No temple shall hold me And none shall you make I’m the Queen of Infinite Space I am indigo – I am night Limitless – I am the sky Giving birth to the Sun – then I swallow him whole Child, be fearless – look up and let go Call me She Who Protects And Friend of the Dead Paint your ceilings deep blue And stars o’er your heads No temple can hold me No temple could stand ‘Tween the night sky that kisses the land No money; no lover; no justice; no peace No human endeavor; no painless release I’ll offer no solace if you live in fear But if you saw what I see from here … Every man every woman – a star shining bright I am indigo – I am night I hold your true nature; and when you’re ready to know Freedom, look up and let go Every man every woman – a star shining bright I am indigo – I am night I hold your true nature; and when you’re ready to know Freedom, look up and let go I am indigo – I am night I am indigo For Imbolc 2013 © G. Estevez LaMonte 1/2013
4.
Coyote’s Tattoo by Gina LaMonte My life, it was lifeless, my life it was plain I wanted for love in so many ways I asked the Trickster, I asked him to call I said, “Change my life. Change it all.” If I’d known then all the things I know now I may not have spoken my wishes out loud But the sage, it burned bright, and the sweetgrass burned hot I was sorry it happened, but now I am not I was sorry it happened, but now I am not Coyote, he crept in my bedroom that night He whispered, “You’ll find the love of your life.” He wouldn’t say how and he couldn’t say when He’d repay all the pain that he’d send The soul of the Trickster breathed in the smoke He said, “I’d love to heal this heart that is broke.” Oh, we made love, and he said, “I’ll be back.” And he didn’t lie about that. No, he didn’t lie about that. He traced a claw in the small of my back / He’s long gone but the lines remain true He left me a love to remember him by / And I still bear Coyote’s Tattoo Coyote returned in the shape of a man With a tiger inked high and drumsticks in hand He tapped out a rhythm right there on my skin And the marque that he left burned within Then he said, “I must go, but you’ll have your wish.” “The sorrows you’ll know are bound to your bliss.” “I may be the Trickster, but I’ve loved you true.” “And you’ll always bear my tattoo.” And the pup that we made and the changes he wrought I was sorry it happened, but now I am not I was sorry it happened, but now I am not He traced a claw in the small of my back / Long gone, but the lines remain true He left me a love to remember him by / And I still bear Coyote’s Tattoo
5.
Freya’s Lullaby (to Baldur on his day of birth) © G. LaMonte – 4/2013 Written at GreenSong Grove Beltaine Festival 2013 As if you were not already declared A child of joy, a child of light I’m counting your fingers, counting your toes Born on this longest night Relief as you cry, and this mother’s first kiss Brushed softly against your crown Blood, salt and tears – I taste your whole life Know it surely as I know my own CHORUS I see your whole life from first love to last I know your whole life though you’ve not lived it I see your whole life from first breath to death And still I would see you live it How the world loves you and how you do shine And how could you not, beautiful child of mine But the Fates see you fall to no warrior’s death Poor ending for one so divine I’m Mother, I’m Queen of sun, sea, sky and stone I will make them all promise to do you no harm I would protect you my Prince, Little King And yet, I still see you fall CHORUS   My will is great, and the mistletoe small No promise shall come from that tiny wraithe I’ll ignore at your peril … oh, the thing I shall miss And I still see you fall in this mother’s first kiss My son fully grown in a game of the gods You’re not touched by stone nor by spear But a blind man’s aim and a mistletoe dart And an IMP destroy all I hold dear CHORUS All this I see in a mother’s first kiss Your heart will stop beating and I will go mad I will rend my cloak and tear my hair I will tear down this world until I have you back I am Mother, I’m Queen … and I cannot change this But know that I love you with every breath Know that I love you in life and in death CHORUS
6.
The Brownie Song My love she baked me brownies To celebrate ferris wheel day And I dug in with much chagrin And ate five right away She’d baked them by the dozens So there were plenty more But ne’er would I have left them If I’d known what was in store The elves they owned the forest Right where we stayed the night With pointy ears and bedy eyes They planned their brownie heist The elves they love their chocolate chips Our brownies made them weep Those crafty elves they waited Until we fell asleep They draped themselves in raccoon pelts Of fur & claw – they dared, Credpt past our fire and lifted lids On all the Tupperware They searched our campsite stem to stern They found the goods she baked They feasted and they drank our wine Left nothing in their wake The sun came up – we stretched our limbs And spied on our ascent Twenty elves in raccoon pelts Hungover by our tent They stayed for beer and pancakes Then staggered on back home We promised to bring brownies The next time we would come You never know how things will go So bring enough to spare Make it sweet and make it light And make enough to share You never know how things might go When you begin your day My love, she baked me brownies To celebrate ferris wheel day My love, she baked me brownies And the elves came out to play My love, she baked me brownies To celebrate ferris wheel day © 2/2013 G. Estevez LaMonte written at Brighid’s Fire, All World Acres, 2/15/2013
7.
Ruby 07:48
Ruby She flies o’er the battlefield urging them on – taking no side It’s the blood and the laughter, beat time with her wings – it’s the thrill in the warriors’ eyes She’s waited and watched him his whole life through – now she’s watching him fall His blade is still keen and his heart is still true – Black Crow, she calls Oh, the diamonds and emeralds that litter her nest So beautiful, shiny and bright Bits of copper and silver and gold and the rest Glitter like stars in the night But the treasure she seeks is bloody and dim She buries her beak in the dead man’s chest She flies with the stone and promises This warrior’s soul will find rest, this warrior’s soul will find rest, this warrior’s soul will find rest A ruby in Morrighan’s nest She flies o’er the city in search of a soul breathing her last The woman bears down, and the child within – coming too fast The Raven, she watches the blood and the breath – ignoring the child’s cries Black wings retrieving the stone at her breast – and the Raven, she flies Oh, the diamonds and emeralds that litter her nest So beautiful, shiny and bright Bits of copper and silver and gold and the rest Glitter like stars in the night But the treasure she seeks is bloody and dim She buries her beak in the dead woman’s chest She flies with the stone and promises This mother’s soul will find rest, this mother’s soul will find rest, oh, this mother’s soul will find rest A ruby in Morrighan’s nest Each life is sacred – each spirit divine But the bravest of souls are the Morrighan’s tithe Hers for the taking and hers to revive Oh, the rubies the Raven collects The rubies in Morrighan’s nest She flies the dark alley, midst drugs, fear and pain – and a tangle of limbs Born of this union of violence and lust – a new life swims The Raven she watches the cells divide – two and then four and then eight This unborn child needs a warrior’s heart to survive his fate And the treasure she’ll give is bloody and bright She buries her beak in the unborn’s chest Drops the ruby deep and promises Little warrior’s soul will someday find rest As a ruby in Morrighan’s nest Each life is sacred – each spirit divine But the bravest of souls are the Morrighan’s tithe Hers for the taking and hers to revive Oh, the rubies the Raven collects The rubies in Morrighan’s nest © 2/2013 G. LaMonte
8.
Four Angels 03:44
Four Angels © G. LaMonte 11/2012 Four angels I called, I commanded Four angels I called open-handed And open-armed I stood in a circle of my own I offered prayers and incense and climbed upon my throne Arrogant and able, a magician fully grown Four angels I called and they appeared Four angels I called and they guarded Four angels I called and they warded I was safe within their arms to sleep and cast about I would not fear the changes or the world that loomed without ‘Til the granite ‘round my heart – it cracked – and still I held no doubt Four angels I called and they drew near Raphael, my wings Gabriel, my breast Michael, my desire Auriel, my rest Tikkun, tikkun, tikkun haNefesh Tikkun, tikkun, tikkun haNefesh Four angels I called, I am your Master Four angels I called, and I heard laughter That thundered and burned low, and rang within my ears Shook me to my bones in humility and fear I collapsed upon the earth and shed a million tears Four angels I wept, make me whole Raphael, my wings Gabriel, my breast Michael, my desire Auriel, my rest Tikkun, tikkun, tikkun haNefesh Tikkun, tikkun, tikkun haNefesh Four angels I called, will you align me Four angels I called, will you define me They left me to my work through the darkest of my days Never doubted for a moment that they would light my way Rose upon my feet, destroyed the bound’ries I had raised Four angels I called, and we were One Raphael, my wings Gabriel, my breast Michael, my desire Auriel, my rest Tikkun, tikkun, tikkun haNefesh Tikkun, tikkun, tikkun haNefesh
9.
Mojo 04:29
Mojo © 2012 G. LaMonte I was a little bit bitter ‘bout working so hard No time for time off, no sun, moon, no stars My nose to that stone that keeps grindin’ away All was mundania, no time to play Day job keeps roof up and food in the belly Without one true thing My soul turned to jelly I couldn’t remember what made me sing I was a hard, hard thing CHORUS That was the year that I lost my mojo (3x) But I got it back Oh, I was feelin’ so bad for myself A real pity party that wouldn’t end well My altar was dusty and I hadn’t prayed For two hundred days Blame it on the moon, blame it on stars Blame it on those freaky Tarot cards You might as well blame all the fish in the sea But I think it was me CHORUS That was the year that I lost my mojo (3x) But I got it back This Goddess, she showed up all beaded and braided She said, “I got what you lost, girl. You must have misplaced it. “Meet me by the water in the bright, bright sun, “And bring your guitar and your drum” I played till I found the beat of my heart I played on and on till my hands flew apart Then I lifted my voice and I raised my head I played my twelve-string till my fingers bled Sweet Goddess, she so loved that blood sacrifice Sweet Mojo, this feels so nice CHORUS That was the year that I lost my mojo (3x) But I got it back Oshun don’t take “No” for an answer And everything comes with a price So every day we drink black tea and rum With a little spice And you will hear us each evening I play till my hands fall apart Then I lift my voice and I raise my head And I let her sing straight from my heart CHORUS That was the year that I lost my mojo (3x) But I got it back
10.
Waking Panther G. LaMonte (6/2013) Waking Panther gently from his sleep Waking Panther gently from his dream He once walked this sacred ground Now his footsteps are nowhere found Waking Panther gently from his sleep Waking Panther gently from his dream Ask the Heron, ask the Crane Ask the Sparrow, call his name Ask Coyote, ask Brown Bear Ask Gator, call him here Waking Panther gently from his sleep Waking Panther gently from his dream Ask the wind, ask the wind, ask the wind, ask the wind We are waking Panther gently from his sleep We are waking Panther gently from his dream He once walked this sacred ground Now his footsteps we pray are sunward bound We are waking Panther gently from his sleep We are waking Panther gently from his dream

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released February 28, 2014

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Mama Gina Tampa, Florida

Award winning singer/songwriter & wanderlust ... fearless story-telling ... bluesy vocals ... humor ... straight-ahead, rhythmic, 12 string acoustic guitar ... djembe ... frame drums ... all weft and warp of the soul of this bard

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