Heather Dale is a Canadian recording artist with Celtic roots, whose origin… Read Full Bio ↴Heather Dale is a Canadian recording artist with Celtic roots, whose original music embraces the power of myth and legend. Tapping into the continuing evolution of Celtic peoples worldwide, Heather cheerfully disregards the typical limits for both folk singer-songwriters and Celtic balladeers, and fuses the folk tradition with a healthy mix of modern blues, jazz and world music influences. Her original music “is powerful stuff... with a depth and resonance rooted in its mythic sources" (Vancouver Sun), and is reminiscent of Loreena McKennitt, Sarah McLachlan, and Steeleye Span.

"Heather Dale's songs express something that honors tradition, but in keeping with the best of traditions they break new ground." WDVR FM (USA)

Maiden's Choice
Heather Dale Lyrics

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A peasant maid of aspect fair went walking, flowers in her hair
Towards the daily market fair, a basket in her hand.
Thereupon she caught the eye of two who chanced to be riding by
A knight upon his stallion high, and a lord who held the land.

"Fair maid," the two men did exclaim "why walk in dust to reach your aim?
No woman could by any name be beauteous as thee."
"Good sirs, I have no horse or cart to make good time as thou both art

And so I make an early start, the market wares to see."

"Fair maid," the knight said graciously "I pray thee come and ride with me.
Thou wouldst my truest lady be until the day I die.
The sun and moon are in your eyes, the purest blue of cloudless skies.
True grace your form personifies. I'd have you by my side."

The lord upon his dappled grey. Thought long and hard on what to say.
At last he simply said "I pray you would consider me. Fair maid," said he
"Away we'll ride, if you'll consent to be my bride.
My keep is strong, my land is wide. It's lady you would be."

"'Tis comfort and security, or quest for truth and purity.
Fair maid what will your answer be, for whom will you decide?"

"I'll not adept at flattery. The lord has more to offer me.
With him I'll make my company, and to the fair we'll ride."

Overall Meaning

The song "Maiden's Choice" by Heather Dale depicts a story of a peasant maid who was on her way to the market fair. While she was walking, two men riding a horse and a dappled grey caught her eye. The knight and the lord praised her beauty and offered to take her with them. The knight asked her to ride with him and be his true lady, while the lord asked her to be his bride and lady of his keep. In the end, the peasant maid selected the lord over the knight, citing that she was not good at flattery and the lord had more to offer in terms of comfort and security.

The song "Maiden's Choice" portrays how societal norms and expectations influence decision-making. The peasant maid had the option to choose between the knight and the lord as per her own accord but factors such as societal status and safety ultimately influenced her decision. The song also highlights the struggle of women in making choices and the pressures that they face in a patriarchal society.

Line by Line Meaning

A peasant maid of aspect fair went walking, flowers in her hair
A pretty peasant girl went for a walk with flowers in her hair

Towards the daily market fair, a basket in her hand.
She headed to the daily fair with a basket in hand

Thereupon she caught the eye of two who chanced to be riding by
Two men on horseback saw her and were captivated

A knight upon his stallion high, and a lord who held the land.
One was a knight on a horse, the other a lord who owned land

"Fair maid," the two men did exclaim "why walk in dust to reach your aim?
The men asked the girl why she was walking in the dusty road

No woman could by any name be beauteous as thee."
They complimented her saying that no woman was as beautiful as she was

"Good sirs, I have no horse or cart to make good time as thou both art
The girl replied that she didn't have a horse or cart to take her to the fair quickly

And so I make an early start, the market wares to see."
She explained that she started early to see all the goods in the fair

"Fair maid," the knight said graciously "I pray thee come and ride with me.
The knight politely asked her to ride with him

Thou wouldst my truest lady be until the day I die.
He promised to make her his true lady forever

The sun and moon are in your eyes, the purest blue of cloudless skies.
He compared her eyes to the sun and moon, and said they were the bluest, clearest skies

True grace your form personifies. I'd have you by my side."
He praised her grace and said he wanted her by his side

The lord upon his dappled grey. Thought long and hard on what to say.
The lord on his horse thought carefully about what to say

At last he simply said "I pray you would consider me. Fair maid," said he
Finally, he asked her to consider him as well and called her "fair maid"

"Away we'll ride, if you'll consent to be my bride.
He asked her to ride away with him and to marry him

My keep is strong, my land is wide. It's lady you would be."
He boasted about his strong fort and wide lands, and offered her the position of Lady

"'Tis comfort and security, or quest for truth and purity.
He mentioned the two choices she had: comfort and security, or a quest for truth and purity

Fair maid what will your answer be, for whom will you decide?"
He asked her to choose between the two of them

"I'll not adept at flattery. The lord has more to offer me.
She said she wasn't good at flattery, but chose the lord because he offered more

With him I'll make my company, and to the fair we'll ride."
She decided to go with the lord, and they'll ride together to the fair

Contributed by Olivia R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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