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Reynardine (the Vampire Legend)

uploaded: Fri, Oct 10, 2008 @ 3:32 PM

by	Anchor Méjans
length	5:24
Recommends	Recommends (19)

October is often associated with the Occult. I offer this piece to hopefully enhance the mood of the month. Reynardine is a song as old as the proverbial hills. It has many variants and spans countries and centuries (much like its sinister subject). The lasting appeal of the song is perhaps it’s content - which includes xenophobia ,seduction, abduction and vampirism between a young woman and a Svengali-like supernatural man.
I adapted the lyrics and also play the medieval bowed and stringed instrument (4 stringed Rebec) in the finale. Thanks to both “nhomas” for the “October Air” sample and to “Bitsy Baby 88” for her vocal meandering, which seemed to fit the intro so well and add to the atmosphere of dark dread.

Lyrics:

One time on a ramble
All in the Eventide
I overheard a fair young woman
Converse with Reynardine

Her hair was blond
Her eyes were blue
Her lips like the blood red wine
And he smiled to look upon her
Did the sly bold Reynardine

All dressed in black from head to toe
He spoke so soft and low
And where his language came from
No one on this earth shall know

“I pray my lord be civil
My company forsake
For it’s too my best opinion
I fear you are a Rake….”

“Ah no Rake am I!” cried he
“Though my manners be not fey…
For my customs are all foreign
And I come from far away…”

“And if by chance you look for me,
By chance you’ll not me find…
For I’ll be in yonder castle…
Inquire for Reynardine…”

And day and night she followed him
His teeth did brightly shine
And he led her over the mountains
Did the sly, bold Reynardine…