I found this in an old facebook feed. I wrote on 15th November 2011. At that time we had not recorded or even conjured up this version of "Shaman of the snow" it was still very much in our heads. The final lyrics changed from this earlier incarnation of the song and The Two Headed Emperor was still a few years off but the vision was there...
I think this was version 2 of the lyrics and the recorded version in the video above is version 4, something like that. This is what I wrote on 15/11/2011
It's a dark song with a ray of hope that I wrote about the origins of the winter solstice which we now celebrate as Christmas and like the festival itself, the song has traces of a melting pot from all the traditions. I can't remember exactly how long ago I wrote it but we are talking the early 80's.
The plan was for me and Pete to record it along with another couple of tunes and put it out as an e.p. a bit in the vein of the Jethro Tull Christmas e.p. which really inspired this project. We envisaged a progressive folk feel to it with mellotron choir and seasonal sounds. We both love Comus, so it would probably be somewhere between Comus and Jethro Tull. We'll get round to recording it eventually.
Shaman of the snow
A distant stranger in winter winds
He said stretch out your hand,
What is the greeting that you bring
From an ancient far off land
Peace on earth and goodwill to men
From the king of kings
There’s another side to this tale
Not the one your choir sings
A day of death and a day of birth
My story now begins
Chorus
Silent watchers of the world
These are the darkest of our days
Do not forget the debt you owe
To the shaman of the snow
And his ancient ways
Your children tell sweet tales of me
But they are wiser than you think
Do you even remember who I am
Have you forgotten the ancient link
A tale of darkness long and cold
Of famine and dull pain
I am the Lord of the reindeer
The keeper of the game
Shaman, seer, magician and priest
Santa is not my real name
Chorus
Silent watchers of the world
These are the darkest of our days
Do not forget the debt you owe
To the shaman of the snow
And his ancient ways
The smell of blood hot in the snow
The aroma of ancient feast
I call a tune, I am your guest
The one the ancients greet
An old man in a red coat knows
This story of great fame
One thousand generations
Have known my real name
I am the Lord of the reindeer
And keeper of the game.
Chorus
Silent watchers of the world
These are the darkest of our days
Do not forget the debt you owe
To the shaman of the snow
And his ancient ways
My invitation to your house
A tree with mirrors, lights and bells
Stolen from a forest in the North
A travellers tale to tell
The evergreen stands tall in the snow
Glitters gold, silver, red & white
The chill is dulled by solstice fire
Bring warmth to this dark night
Come to the fire but not too near
I’ll tell you of the light
Chorus
Silent watchers of the world
These are the darkest of our days
Do not forget the debt you owe
To the shaman of the snow
And his ancient ways
The days of ice cast desolate spells
But each season brings it’s growth
Brethren and wanderers of these days
You are reaping what has been sown
If you seek a better way
Then you must learn to give
You’ve robbed the earth of everything
That’s not so festive
One more secret you must know
You have to die to live
Chorus
Silent watchers of the world
These are the darkest of our days
Do not forget the debt you owe
To the shaman of the snow
And his ancient ways
I think this was version 2 of the lyrics and the recorded version in the video above is version 4, something like that. This is what I wrote on 15/11/2011
It's a dark song with a ray of hope that I wrote about the origins of the winter solstice which we now celebrate as Christmas and like the festival itself, the song has traces of a melting pot from all the traditions. I can't remember exactly how long ago I wrote it but we are talking the early 80's.
The plan was for me and Pete to record it along with another couple of tunes and put it out as an e.p. a bit in the vein of the Jethro Tull Christmas e.p. which really inspired this project. We envisaged a progressive folk feel to it with mellotron choir and seasonal sounds. We both love Comus, so it would probably be somewhere between Comus and Jethro Tull. We'll get round to recording it eventually.
Shaman of the snow
A distant stranger in winter winds
He said stretch out your hand,
What is the greeting that you bring
From an ancient far off land
Peace on earth and goodwill to men
From the king of kings
There’s another side to this tale
Not the one your choir sings
A day of death and a day of birth
My story now begins
Chorus
Silent watchers of the world
These are the darkest of our days
Do not forget the debt you owe
To the shaman of the snow
And his ancient ways
Your children tell sweet tales of me
But they are wiser than you think
Do you even remember who I am
Have you forgotten the ancient link
A tale of darkness long and cold
Of famine and dull pain
I am the Lord of the reindeer
The keeper of the game
Shaman, seer, magician and priest
Santa is not my real name
Chorus
Silent watchers of the world
These are the darkest of our days
Do not forget the debt you owe
To the shaman of the snow
And his ancient ways
The smell of blood hot in the snow
The aroma of ancient feast
I call a tune, I am your guest
The one the ancients greet
An old man in a red coat knows
This story of great fame
One thousand generations
Have known my real name
I am the Lord of the reindeer
And keeper of the game.
Chorus
Silent watchers of the world
These are the darkest of our days
Do not forget the debt you owe
To the shaman of the snow
And his ancient ways
My invitation to your house
A tree with mirrors, lights and bells
Stolen from a forest in the North
A travellers tale to tell
The evergreen stands tall in the snow
Glitters gold, silver, red & white
The chill is dulled by solstice fire
Bring warmth to this dark night
Come to the fire but not too near
I’ll tell you of the light
Chorus
Silent watchers of the world
These are the darkest of our days
Do not forget the debt you owe
To the shaman of the snow
And his ancient ways
The days of ice cast desolate spells
But each season brings it’s growth
Brethren and wanderers of these days
You are reaping what has been sown
If you seek a better way
Then you must learn to give
You’ve robbed the earth of everything
That’s not so festive
One more secret you must know
You have to die to live
Chorus
Silent watchers of the world
These are the darkest of our days
Do not forget the debt you owe
To the shaman of the snow
And his ancient ways
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