The Duke's Eldest Daughter (Freedom, Flight, & Fantasy)

Song - The Duke's Eldest Daughter- (Lackey)
Album - Freedom, Flight, & Fantasy - Heather Alexander lead vocal, Leslie Fish music, Mercedes Lackey lyrics, Cecilia Eng arrangment
www.firebirdart...
Lyrics
The duke’s second daughter was ravishing fair
Bright blue were her eyes and bright gold was her hair
The duke’s youngest daughter, with eyes like the sky
And hair like night shadows made courtiers sigh
But the duke’s eldest daughter, a maiden called Jane
Brown haired and brown eyes was decidedly plain
No suitor had she, not a soul sought her hand
Although she must wed first, by her father’s command
And nobody knew nor would care if were told
That plain little Jane had a voice of pure gold
Since no one would miss her at night on her own
Through evening dark forest she’d wander alone
For Jane knew a secret she’d learned by chance
The place in the forest where Elves came to dance
At night as she watched them in their magic ring
Enthralled by their music, Jane started to sing
Shocked by her own boldness, was still pleased to find
That harpist and dancers did not seem to mind
Came winter and Jane dare not wander by night
But drooped in the corner, a pitiful sight
And cruel her two sisters, impatient to wed
Would heap bitter scorn on unhappy Jane’s head
There was no escape from their torments but sleep
And long in the darkness Jane softly would weep
One evening they followed her right to her bed
And one said in anger, “I wish you were dead!”
So Jane fled in tears to the snow and the storm
Without even a thin cloak to keep herself warm
Soon lost in the dark and the snow soft and deep
She felt herself nodding and falling asleep
“Perhaps this is better,” she said with a sigh
And gave herself up to the storm then to die
But before death could claim her with fear-filled alarm
She was snatched from death cold hands by strong Elven arms
To Elf voices urging she lived, she awoke
Embraced by pure love and a warm Elven cloak
Now Jane disappeared in the storm it is said
And both the duke’s daughters are certain she’s dead
But if you should chance near that wild Elven hill
You’ll find that the Elf folk at night dance there still
And the music they dance to is sung and is played
By a proud harper Elf and his dear mortal maid

[@tonyburgoyne9614]

"Would heap bitter scorn on unhappy Jane’s head" I think unhappy would be an understatement XD

[@emporesszia]

Thank you so much! Do you happen to have the Kitchen Junk Drawer album?

[@SavitarTheSurfingGod]

+Layne Lanpher No sorry i have heard about it but so far have seen no evidence of it's continued existence

[@ksenyaknowlton7031]

Does anyone know if this is based on a book or movie?

[@kimlindner4033]

I don't think there was one i have not been able to find any information if there was but they did do a lot of songs based on forgotten or little known fantasy books. There is a older version of this song called The Elven Harper that was done by both Lackey and Kathy Mar but i have not been able to find it Burlap Lute redid it though if you want to hear a different version of the same story the lyrics are different it is here on youtube.