“Melancholy Minstrel” is one of the ‘Castle Songs’ on this CD, along with “Captain Of The Guard”. These songs are written around the characters and aspects of medieval castle life.
In this song, the minstrel is also a mystic, a seer, able to see things beyond the ken of ordinary men.
The minstrel visits the castle and is singing directly of the Queen’s secret and tragic love of a knight killed in battle, while the king thinks it is the music itself that is the cause of the queen’s weariness.
The minstrel is dismissed by the king but soon the queen follows him out, drawn by his music. From the parapets she voices her truth.
Once I played for courts and kings
In many a distant land
But no Merry Man
Am I
My songs were thus
Upon these fields
A shining knight shall fall
Which maid shall hear my calling
And fail the castle wall?
Oh leave, they cried
Your kind, kings said
We have no need of here.
Here we need the merry man
My queen grows tired I fear
Go melancholy minstrel
Pack your dirges all so dreary
Take your long face out of here
The queen she grows more weary
So upon the garden gate I sat
And played my mellow tunes
Until the queen did wander out
Beneath the waxing moon
She stood and gazed an listened
And sighed so softly singing
To music wrapped itself around
The death bell
Softy ringing
Dear God upon some unknown field
Where unknown knights do fall
From unknown love
She softly sighed
And failed the castle wall
Yes I have played for courts and kings
In many a distant land
But no Merry Man
Am I
