Dim Blue Light

from Moorscape - Album by John Reed

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DIM BLUE LIGHT is a tale from the Staffordshire moorlands about a maidservant who displeases her mistress, who in a fit of rage beats her to death. The murderess is required to prove innocence or guilt by touching the girl’s body: if it bleeds she would be found guilty. But she breaks the superstition beforehand by asking for and being given water and she is released, only to be haunted by the spirit of the maid.

lyrics

DIM BLUE LIGHT

On a cold bleak day in a moorland gale
The maidservant ran to fetch the pail
The mistress of the house had sent the maid for the water
But the maid she was weak, and like a lamb to the slaughter

She dutifully made in the rain for the well
For a minute or an hour, the tale doesn’t tell
But for as long as the patience of the mistress on the day
Nobody knew. Nobody dared say.

The beating that came was dispatched without caution
And left the maid’s body in twist and contortion
A short time passed and the little maid died
Of murderous intent the mistress denied

See the dim blue light
In the cold of the night
At the foot of the rise
Where the maidservant she lies

She insisted she proved her innocence by ordeal
And was led towards the body to touch and to feel
Any blood from the wounds would indicate her guilt
And the gallows would beckon or the sword would be felt

As the mistress approached she begged water to drink
It was given by the hand of a conspirator we think
The giving of the water cancelled out the superstition
And the murderess was freed under a cloud of suspicion

See the dim blue light
In the cold of the night
At the foot of the rise
Where the maidservant she lies

The only recourse that the judge could entreat
Was for the maid’s restless spirit to visit every night
To trouble the mistress and prevent her from sleeping
To deliver the punishment in spite of her weeping

Deprived of her sleep and in an act of desperation
The mistress had a clergyman perform an exorcism
The little maid’s spirit was finally set to flight
And now appears on the hill as a dim blue light

See the dim blue light
In the cold of the night
At the foot of the rise
Where the maidservant she lies

credits

from Moorscape - Album, track released April 4, 2016
JOHN REED: Cittern, Vocals
KIERAN HEANEY: Elecrtic Guitar & Bass Guitar
RAJENDRA JADEJA: Tabla
HEYGAMAL: Production
EMMA PERRY: Additional Vocals

© Lyrics and music to all songs copyright John Reed 2016. All Rights Reserved

All recordings © and ℗ ND4PRM 2016

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John Reed Manchester, UK

John is a Blackpool born singer-songwriter from Manchester whose songs cover themes of social injustice, environment, politics, and life

In 2020, John joined producer Ali Karim and Jo Beth Young in releasing "The Peasants' Revolt" (as NIGHTSONG) in December 2020.

His new album in collaboration with Ali Karim "Breathe" will be released on 1st October 2021. Look out for the full album YouTube! ... more

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