Song For The Severed Head In `The King Of The Great Clock Tower'

Saddle and ride, I heard a man say,

Out of Ben Bulben and Knocknarea,

What says the Clock in the Great Clock Tower?

All those tragic characters ride

But turn from Rosses' crawling tide,

The meet's upon the mountain-side.

A slow low note and an iron bell.



What brought them there so far from their home.

Cuchulain that fought night long with the foam,

What says the Clock in the Great Clock Tower?

Niamh that rode on it; lad and lass

That sat so still and played at the chess?

What but heroic wantonness?

A slow low note and an iron bell.



Aleel, his Countess; Hanrahan

That seemed but a wild wenching man;

What says the Clock in the Great Clock Tower?

And all alone comes riding there

The King that could make his people stare,

Because he had feathers instead of hair.

A slow low note and an iron bell.



Tune by Arthur Duff