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In one of these lonely Orkney Isles |
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There dwelled a maiden fair |
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Her cheeks were red, her eyes were blue |
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She had yellow, curling hair |
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Which caught the eye and then the heart |
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Of one who could never be |
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A lover of so true a maid |
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Or fair a form as she |
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Across the lake in Sandwick |
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Dwelled a youth she held most true |
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And ever since her infancy |
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He had watched those eyes so blue. |
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The land runs out into the sea |
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It's a narrow neck of land |
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Where weird and grim the Standing Stones |
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In a circle there they stand. |
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One bonny moonlit Christmas Eve |
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They met at that sad place |
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With her heart in glee and the beams of love |
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Were shining on her face |
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When her lover came and he grasped her hand |
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And what loving words they said |
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They talked of future's happy days |
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As through the stones they strayed. |
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They walked toward the lovers' stone |
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And through it passed their hands |
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They plighted there a constant troth |
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Sealed by love's steadfast bands |
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He kissed his maid and then he watched her |
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That lonely bridge go o'er |
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For little, little did he think |
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He wouldn't see his darling more. |
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[Chorus:] |
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Standing stones of the Orkney Isles |
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Gazing out to sea |
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Standing stones of the Orkney Isles |
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Bring my love to me |
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He turned his face toward his home |
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That home he did never see |
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And you shall have the story |
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As it was told to me |
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When a form upon him sprang |
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With a dagger gleaming bright |
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It pierced his heart and his dying screams |
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Disturbed the silent night. |
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This maid had nearly reached her home |
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When she was startled by a cry |
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And she turned to look around her |
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And her love was standing by |
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His hand was pointing to the stars |
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And his eyes glazed at the light |
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And with a smiling countenance |
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He vanished from her sight. |
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She quickly turned and home she ran |
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Not a word of this was said |
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For well she know at seeing his form |
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That her faithful love was dead |
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And from that day she pined away |
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Not a smile seen on her face |
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And with outstretched arms she went to meet him |
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In a brighter place. |
