We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Songs of English Magic

by errandofmercy

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    You may purchase individual tracks, but buying the full album gives you access to additional graphics, wallpapers, and a super-secret bonus track! If you like Elves, Dwarves, and alcohol, you won't want to miss it!
    Purchasable with gift card

      $9 USD  or more

     

  • This is a 12-page album booklet-style PDF featuring lyrics, original cosplay photography, and thank you's from the artist.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $3 USD or more 

     

1.
The Sword 04:32
A withered hand rests on the table It doesn’t shock me anymore Another victim of the darkness Locked beneath it in a drawer You speak to me of sacrifices Of all the pain your choice prevents You sling the yoke around my shoulders Your death my inheritance But you were supposed to save my soul You were supposed to make me whole again I trusted you with everything and this is my reward To hold it steady While you fall upon the sword Don’t think the irony is wasted You’ve paid the price for guilt and pride You always told me not to pity the dead But the living, dead inside What would your sister have to tell you If she could see you as you are? (would she say) Your strategy is flawed And once again you’re playing God But this time you’ve gone too far You were supposed to save my soul You were supposed to make me whole again I trusted you with everything and this is my reward To hold it steady While you fall upon the sword You promised me I’d find redemption I should have known you weren’t sincere I spied for you, I lied for you, I crossed so many lines for you But now it’s all too clear (that) No one is going to save my soul No one could ever make me whole again No matter what I say or do, I’ll never be restored So when you are ready, I will hold it steady I will hold it steady, while you fall upon the sword
2.
Seven years, you’d think for sure That’s all you’ve got to endure All the pureblood pricks on their new broomsticks So superficial, so immature Then when you graduate You take a look around and you say HEY WAIT This is the same as where I just came from I thought it was over - oh, that’s just great The Wizarding world is just as bewitched With whose blood is pure and who caught the Snitch, Who‘s in the Prophet, who’s in the closet, Who‘s got the gold and who scored a witch And I still don’t have the right look And I don’t have the right friends Nothing changes but the faces, the names, and the trends Hogwarts never ends Check out the popular kids You’ll never guess what Bellatrix did Lucius got caught at a Muggle wig shop And poor Professor Lupin finally got the chop And the only thing that matters Is climbing up that social ladder Still care about your robes and the broom you ride Doesn’t matter if you’re sixteen or thirty-five Lily Evans, she’s the prom queen James Potter, captain of the Quidditch team Wormtail, the clown, Padfoot, the quarterback I’ve seen it all before - I want my money back! The Wizarding world is just as bewitched With whose blood is pure and who caught the Snitch, Who’s undercover Dumbledore’s lover, Who cast a Dark Mark on the Quidditch pitch And I still don’t have the right look And I don’t have the right friends And I still have to take the same shit I did back then Hogwarts never ends The Wizarding world is just as bewitched With whose blood is pure and who caught the Snitch, Who‘s in the Prophet, who’s in the closet, Who‘s got the gold and who scored a witch And I still don’t have the right look And I don't have any friends And I'm pretty much the same as I was back then Hogwarts never ends Hogwarts never ends Here we go again...
3.
Memories like wisps of smoke Curl around my fingertips Find the truth for which I grope As the sand beneath me slips In this silver bowl of mist I leave my life with you behind Far away from those who wander The dark pathways of my mind But I miss you Like a flightless bird misses the sky where it has never flown And I miss you Like a sightless fish misses the sun which it has never known (never known) Like a snake that sheds its skin I will discard these sentiments Cauterize my bleeding heart This love my last impediment But I miss you Like a celibate misses the touch which he has never felt And I miss you Like an orphan child misses the home where he has never dwelt (refrain) (I miss the love I never knew The kindness I’ve forgotten The friendship that I threw away The memories gone rotten) I will rise from this ordeal With a mind as clear as ice Though these wounds may never heal I will make the sacrifice
4.
Dark Arts 04:04
It’s no surprise You’ve shown some curiosity But you’d be wise To take my words most soberly The discipline of which I dare to speak Is mercurial Quite chimerical Once you begin to trifle With power that can choke and stifle You may find, it’s hard to know Who’s in control And who is controlled So you want to play with magic? You’ll never get it back once your soul departs Tell me, do you dare to do this? Because there’s no defense against the Dark Arts Will you be spared? Or be ensnared? When all your thoughts turn shades of black It’s quite the rush How could it be a sin? A gentle touch A tattoo on your skin But soon enough You start to lose your grip Your sense of right and wrong Begins to slip That which you try to sever Grows back with more strength than ever Like a beast with many heads With every strike, it only spreads So you want to play with magic? This sorcery is not for the faint of heart Tell me, do you dare to do this? Because there’s no defense against the Dark Arts Will you seize the power? Or be devoured? When darkness takes Everything you’ve got You might think you’re incorruptible But the Dark Arts are indestructible Take care what you set into motion This magic is more potent than any charm or potion You may fall under its spell, and at first things may go well But all too late you’ll realize you’ve trapped yourself in hell No matter what you do, there’s no escaping from this power All the sweetness of your arrogance can turn so quickly sour This magic never slumbers, It grows stronger with each mutation The only way to overpower it is resisting the temptation The Dark Arts are like a hydra, ever-changing and eternal Cut off one head and a new one sprouts, more clever and infernal So you want to play with magic? You’ll never see the light once the spiral starts Tell me, do you dare to do this? Because there’s no defense against the Dark Arts Will you prevail? Or will you fail? When you attempt The unforgivable
5.
Figures huddle in the rain A pale face awash with pain Your sister mocks you for your desperation Bated breath constricts your chest You’ve come to me with one request To spare your son humiliation For you know I’ll stay And I’ll find a way To protect him somehow But what I cannot say Is I’ve already made One unbreakable vow Filaments of silver charm Climb like cobwebs up my arm Our fates forever intertwined Like the other vow I’ve made The ransom for your son is paid With my blood this time For you know I’ll stay And I’ll find a way To protect him somehow But what I cannot say Is I’ve already made One unbreakable vow Too many promises to keep Too many miles to go before I sleep And even if this plan succeeds Someday soon It will be me who bleeds And I hope someday They will find a way To forgive me somehow For though I want to escape I cannot forsake This unbreakable vow (refrain)
6.
Magicians gathered round in the Old Starre Inn All on a winter's day And they'd eat and they'd drink and their tales they'd spin So the folks all say They'd articles aplenty to brandish about All on a winter's day But of magic among them there was nowt So the folks all say Lai di di... Til one night the youngest of their crew All on a winter's day Put a question to them made their faces turn blue So the folks all say He asked why magicians neglected their craft All on a winter's day And they laughed and they tutted and said he was daft So the folks all say Lai di di... Well the young man went out, for an answer to seek All on a winter's day To old Hurtfew Abbey, all sober and bleak So the folks all say And inside the library of Mr. Norrell All on a winter's day A bargain was struck put an end to their quarrel So the folks all say Lai di di... Then early one morning before the grey dawn All on a winter's day The magicians assembled, a doubting black throng So the folks all say They all signed away their right to do magic All on a winter's day Except John Segundus, who thought it too tragic So the folks all say Lai di di... Far off in Hurtfew, a storm it was brewing All on a winter's day Norrell his scandalous magic was doing So the folks all say From inside York Minster came cries of fright All on a winter's day For the statues inside it had all come to life So the folks all say They sang lai di di... With tongues of dry stone, they all told their stories All on a winter's day Of past thieves and murderers, conquests and glories So the folks all say Segundus was stunned, and he put pen to paper All on a winter's day To tell the whole world of the York Minster caper So the folks all say Lai di di... So if ever you stand in the minster of York All on a winter's day And hear a strange sound, like a stone that can talk So the folks all say Remember the tale of old Mr. Norrell All on a winter's day For with real magicians it does not do to quarrel So the folks all say!
7.
For lyrics, you'll need to purchase a copy of the novel - but I promise you won't regret it!
8.
It’s been so long since I could close my eyes It’s been so long since I could sleep It’s been so long since I could recognize The face in the mirror staring back at me And you’re the only one who knows Who can see beyond this rose at my mouth The only one who feels the same The only reason I still believe I’m sane It’s been so long since I did not ache everywhere It’s been so long since I could feel I have forgotten why I used to care I cannot tell the dream from what is real And you’re the only one who knows Who lives in a hell you never chose The only one who shares the dance The only reason why I still might have a chance You’re the only one You’re the only one Who knows It’s been so long since we have spoken, my dear friend But this reunion only leaves me heartbroken Another poor soul joins our company Doomed to rot here for eternity Still you’re the only one who knows The secret world we never can disclose But when the puppeteer grows tired What will become of the toys he once desired? You’re the only one You’re the only one Who knows
9.
10.
I See Fire 04:36
11.
To The Sea 05:12
To the sea, to the sea The white gulls are crying The wind is blowing The white foam is flying West, west away, the round sun is falling Grey ship, Grey ship Do you hear them calling? I will leave, I will leave The Greenwood that bore me To follow the voices of those gone before me To Erresëa, to fair Elven halls Where my people dwell ever And the leaves do not fall To the sea, to the sea Your longing will steer you Far away from the mortals Who love and revere you Oh, I wish you joy, but alas for me! Twice now my axe has sought the wrong tree To the sea, to the sea I wish I could follow But there’s no fate for me Save to pine and to wallow Oh, pity the poor Dwarf who survived Dwarrow-delf To harrow his heart o’er a wayfaring Elf! Mellonamin, uuma dela Put your grief to an end Come with me, you shall sail Side by side with a friend We will journey together, at the Lady’s behest Come with me, Gimli, into the West! To the sea, to the sea (to the sea) The white gulls are crying (together) The wind is blowing (we will be) The white foam is flying (forever) West, west away, the round sun is falling (see the sun, setting West) Grey ship (fair ship), grey ship (our ship) I can hear them calling! Gi melin, naugrim… Oh, stop it, you great sap! Never!
12.
Like a jewel buried deep beneath the ground My love gave off no light and made no sound It lay untouched for a century Til miner’s hands came and set it free And to your fate my soul was ever bound For years I walked the forest’s paths alone Among my father’s kin the seeds were sown The malice I was taught to bear My people’s callous lack of care Were washed away like ocean-polished stone Oh, a’maelamin You have proved the folly of my kin Oh, ai atar Your spirit shines as bright as any star At first I found it difficult to trust My people’s ill opinions all seemed just But as we tread the thorny path And fought to stave off evil’s wrath Our wariness soon crumbled all to dust In Lorien beneath the Mallorn trees The radiant Lady brought you to your knees To see the love within your eyes Awoke in me a sweet surprise A firm devotion that would never cease Mela en coriamin I'll stay beside you til your eyes grow dim Oh, spangaer With you I’d board the fair grey ships and sail away Away...

about

Music inspired by the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, the world of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, and the novel Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke.

credits

released December 29, 2015

All vocals, instruments, lyrics (except where otherwise noted), arrangements, recording, and production by Errand of Mercy.

Cover and inside photography by Errand of Mercy.

Recorded and mixed at Spinner's End Studios in Rochester, NY.

Errand would like to thank:
All of the authors, music makers, and dreamers of dreams who have so kindly lent me their characters and worlds to play with, the denizens of the Internet who have offered me so much support and encouragement to do the thing, my iPad for taking everything I could throw at it (sometimes literally) and producing not-terrible recordings, and everyone who creates, remixes, and transforms great stories into new marvels in the beautiful alchemy that is fandom.

license

tags

about

errandofmercy Rochester, New York

Errandofmercy is a singer/songwriter/cosplayer from Rochester, NY. Their music is inspired by literature, film, television, and, occasionally, real life. Their fandoms include Harry Potter, Tolkien's works, Star Trek, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, and many others.

Errand writes, arranges, and produces all their own tracks. Covers or tracks w/borrowed materials are available free of charge.
... more

contact / help

Contact errandofmercy

Streaming and
Download help

Report this album or account

errandofmercy recommends:

If you like errandofmercy, you may also like: