Subject: 	[BBR] Opening issue Vol. 1 No. 1

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BENEFITS OF THE LIST
This mailing list is intended to bring you information about new songs and releases.  When I write a new song, you guys will get to see it first.  In fact there's one included with this very newsletter.

ADMINISTRATIVE STUFF
This e-mail address is not the permanent home for this newsletter, it just happens to be the one I've got now.  I will be publishing these newsletters as information comes up or as new songs get written so you won't have to see them on a regular basis.  I will always include the [BBR] at the front of the newsletter so you can easily identify it.

NEWS FROM THE RECORDING FRONT
A CD release of "Bard's Make the Best Lays" is being pushed back until sales of the tape pick up a bit.  Some of you have asked about current projects.  The timeline for future releases is as follows:

1) Recoup the costs from the creation of the first tape.

2) Record a second tape.

3) Release "Lays" in CD format.

4) Any ideas?

The current songlist for the second album is:
The Wish
The Barbarian Freehold Alliance
The Price of Steel - By Ld. Draughir
Red Belt, Silver Spurs
On The Making of a Lady
William's Wedding Song
The Crescent of Caid
and 
Choose Wisely (listed below)

There is also a possibility that I might be able to record "Pennsic Rhapsody" by Logan of Guille if I can get the appropriate permissions.

Please give me any feedback on this newsletter and again, let me know if you do not wish to be included.

Rathflaed DuNoir
The Black Bard of Meridies, MSoB
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"Bard's Make the Best Lays" available at: 
BlackBird Recording
POBox 75
Tustin, CA. 92780

Cassettes: $7.00 + $2.00 S&H.  Songbooks: $2.50 + $1.00 S&H
(CA residents please add 7.75% Sales Tax)
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Choose Wisely
	By Rathflaed DuNoir
	The Black Bard of Meridies, MSoB
	mka: Stephen R. Melvin

This song is based on a story told to me by Ld. Efenwealt Whystle, MSoB and recounted to him by Ld. Taliesin Peregrentor, MSoB.  There is an A part and a B part to this song.  The verses are labeled accordingly.

             Dm				     G		        Dm
A) He wandered through the lands North to South, East and West,
	    Dm			         C
And the people all claimed that his songs were the best,
           Dm                             G
He'd grown up a harper no merchant or blade,
	Am				   Dm
With magic and music the tools of his trade.

A) He traveled the forest, he walked through the hills,
He wandered the length of the land if you will,
His name it was known from the hills to the sea, 
And even was known to the sidhe.

A) One night as he traveled from village to town,
He passed by the place where the good folk lie down,
His name it was called from the woodlands behind,
He turned round in fear of the sights he would find.

A)"We've heard your songs," said the messenger there,
"And we bring you a message to mortals most rare,
The greatest of all of the treasures we keep,
A pathway beyond to the world after sleep."

A)"And how can this be," asked the bard of the elf,
"That I should be called to the fey with yourself?"
"Tis not to our lands that your journey does lead."
And he tossed down a scroll at the poor young man's feet.

A)"There is the key," said the elf to the bard,
" To our home is easy, but your way is hard,
Learn well the song that you see on the deed."
As the sidhe disappeared, the bard opened to read.
       Dm			 G	       Dm
B) Sing of the woodlands and sing of the dance,
Dm 			    C		 Dm
Sing of the wonders you find just by chance,
Dm	       G		 C	          Dm
Sing of the places that man's rarely seen,
Dm	      G	      Dm     Dm	          G          Dm
Sing of the lady in green, sing of the lady in green.

A) As the man read the words, they faded from sight,
And the song burned itself on his mind throughout the night,
He lifted his harp and he raised up his voice,
For he knew that his journey had left him no choice.

B) He sang of the woodlands and sang of the dance,
He sang of the wonders you find just by chance,
He sang of the places that man's rarely seen,
He sang of the lady in green, yes he sang of the lady in green.

A) And there in the woodlands the air split in twain,
Accompanied by thunder and lightning and rain!
He stepped down the path that had opened before,
Til he came to a great hall and knocked on the door.

A) The door opened up and they welcomed him home,
To the place he had searched for, the reason he roamed,
And he stayed there a twelvemonth, a year and a day,
Till he learned there the magic, the music does play.

A) Then the lady in green said before he returned,
"One wish can we give you, no more can you earn,
But choose your gift wisely lest something you lack,
And we'll see you no more till the day you come back."

A) Then the man said, "My lady you do me right well,
And I'll make my choice whether fair or for fell,
You've told me there's no way I'll find back to here,
For so long as I live and that's what I fear."

A) But I have the music and I have the song,
And I'll keep on searching no matter how long,
There's no place on earth that the gateway can hide,
The gift that I ask for is never to die!"

A) Then the tears flowed quite freely from the great lady's eyes,
"'Tis no gift you ask, but a bane!" she did cry,
"This place is called heaven and your place you did earn,
But only the dead here can ever return,"

A)"And now you must wander forever on earth,
Still searching to find the true land of your birth,
And no fate can kill you no matter how fell,
We showed you to heaven, and you chose your hell."

A) But lady I knew not!" the bard he cried back.
And woke on the ground with his harp at his back,
And cried out in anguish, he knew it no dream,
For the song through his mind and his memories screamed.

A) And now I must wander forever alone,
For my lady and fam'ly are at my true home,
I can open the gateway whenever I sing,
But only my sadness and tears will it bring.

B) For I sing of the woodlands, I sing of the dance,
I sing of the wonders I've found just by chance,
But I can't cross the gateway to the places I've seen,
And I can't touch my lady in green, no I can't touch my lady in green.

1/13/98