THE FESTIVAL OF BELTANE lyrics
by JOEL SATTLER
[partly cribbed from Pat O'Brien's nutmeg]

The rakes of Mallow are floating above
a fine grassy crossroad way out of town
on a fine Beltane night with a fire on the hill
and all the pipes playing and five fiddles fiddling
and the young men all dancing as though were possessed
and the girls shy as mice never missing a step

in Scotland on the first of May
all of the young folk come out to play
the fires are lit the biter is bit
the pipes come out of the kit
and everyone is happy
the world is bitter
the skies are dark
and the arrow that so often
misses the mark
but tonight is ours
at least for now
and everything is allowed

on the night of the Beltane
a night so fair and plain
with the sparks from the fire
flying high and free
and the spark of desire
tween you and me
let us loose our hair
and go a little insane
tonight for the festival of beltane