Of course I had never read, or heard about these historical facts here .... but listening to you in this succulent interpretation, I went fishing for information on this subject .... It is quite surprising and disconcerting, but we were in the 1600's, weren't we.

Interesting poetry. Dig the folk rock vibe too.

Nice song! interesting tale!✨✨✨✨🌜

The Story of Pendle Witches is sad tail. The Devil rides out? Mass hysteria in 1612? Or Rich men pandering to their new King who had already written a book on Witches? There are many sides to the story and novels new and old to tell them. In all 10 people were hanged because Alizon had asked a Tinker (John Law) for a little pin one night. He said no, then something happened that led to his illness. From there it escalated.

You can read the trial in notes here: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/18253 for free. In the excellently titled "Wonderful discovery of Witches". The more you read the more you see women trusting in a system of law that is too young and too managed by "clever" men to do them true justice.

So this is my song of Alizon Device, I hope I have worded this song as ambiguously as I can. Alizon confessed, but do we all agree that she was capable of unpressured confession? She had a hard life and did not have many capabilities to create income. So this is a little of her story as I imagine it and a little bit of folk rock into the bargain.

The tune was inspired after seeing Martin Simpson this weekend in Blakeney. Try a different tuning he suggested. CGCGCD... I'm sure that's what he said.

I'm working on a couple of other songs on this topic (The Song of James the 1st and the Song of Alice Nutter). I hope they'll all have different feels to them. If you have suggestions let me know.


THE SONG OF ALIZON DEVICE
(Pendle Witch Song No. 1)

Just a pin Johnny Law, just a pin I asked,
A pin for my blessing and then you can pass.
But your heart was closed, Black and bleak.
And as I cursed you, we found, it was also weak.
And as I cursed you, we found, it was also weak.

I never meant to harm you or your son,
I came to say sorry for what I had done,
But you wanted revenge, oh why was I surprised
And so I stand trial, at Lancaster Assizes.

For I learned the power at Demdike’s knee
How to heal, how to hurt and how to charm thee
And I’ve made many a deal that have left a mark,
We Christian like men who turned ugly after dark.

Rich men, Poor men, Beggar men, Thieves,
There’s always a man spinning fear into belief
And it’s a woman’s lot to find a crust to earn
And for that in Lancaster, you can burn
And for that in Lancaster, you can burn

Just a pin Johnny Law, just a pin I asked,
A pin for my blessing and then you can pass.
But your heart was closed, Black and bleak.
And as I cursed you, we found it was also weak.
And as I cursed you, we found it was also weak.

So, am I a mother, witch, or a daft wife?
Is a man’s fear enough to brand a life?
10 of us were hanged for the rabble there to see
But the Black Dog of Pendle she still runs free
But the Black Dog of Pendle she still runs free

Just a pin Johnny Law, just a pin I asked,
A pin for my blessing and then you can pass.
But your heart was closed, Black and bleak.
And as I cursed you, we found it was also weak.

Rich men, Poor men, Beggar men, Thieves,
There’s always a man spinning fear into belief
10 of us were hanged for the rabble to see
But the Black Dog of Pendle she still runs free
But the Black Dog of Pendle she still runs free

Words and Music by Sean Doran

The Song Of Alizon Device (Pendle Witch Song No 1)

Something Memorable is Sean Doran's SoundCloud Name. 

Hi there. Go on.. push a play button and re-post something....while you read....

I've been on Soundcloud since Dec 2011 and it still amazes me how this community has helped me to improve my music and continue to write and play. It's the balance between the making music and the listening to the inspiration that the rest of you create, that makes it work. Thank you for sharing and thank you for listening.

I'm song writer and singer, continuing to learn and play, create and expand my capabilities. I'm very happy to write and record with others here on Soundcloud, I've enjoyed the collaborations that I've been involved with and they are where I learn the most. So, if you want a lyric or a vocal or fancy trying to collaborate on a complete track please let me know. 

My songs tend to be lyrics driven and my lyrics tend to come from ideas hinted at by words or phrases I hear or read. Once I'm writing I tend to start off in one direction and soon find the lyrics choosing their own. No matter how hard I push towards that pop, chirpy track.... I tend to come back something a little slower. Through I've been experimenting more lately. 

I truly believe everyone can write and should give it a go and so I'm happy to work with anyone.

I'm currently recording a combination of N2 pencil mics for acoustic guitar and a Aston Original mike for vocal. I have an M-Audio interface to my Mac and Logic X.

Born in Belfast, N. Ireland, but currently living and working from (Malaysia, India, Netherlands)North Norfolk in the UK.

I hope you'll like some of what you hear and that you'll leave a comment. Even if you don't like it, I'd love to hear why and what would make you listen again. Your comments make me better. 

शुभ कामनाएँ

Sean

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