Songs for Samhain

Coming from a folk background, a big part of how I express my relationship with the seasons, is through music. Here are some songs I think are particularly relevant for Samhain.

Lyke Wake Dirge – yes it’s Christian, but All Souls Night and all Hallows Eve are also Christian, it’s a wonderful spooky tune and there’s a story here about poetic justice in the afterlife. My take on it is that as you g through Purgatory (and most souls would after death) what you get, is what you’ve given. Never given anyone shoes? Don’t expect to have shoes when you walk through all the prickly plants.

I’ll Haunt You – Show of Hands. A modern song in a folk style. You don’t have to be dead to be creepy.

Tam Lyn – a traditional Scottish ballad, and a faerie classic, because Samhain has distinct faerie connotations. Fairport Convention, as this is my favourite tune. There’s a lot of versions of the words, whether the young lady is Janet of Margaret varies! This one skips over what exactly happens in the woods, some versions are less than consenting. At full length it can be huge, this is an abridged version.

And one of mine – no snazzy video , but you can listen to it on bandcamp.

If you’ve got favourites, do please add them – titles or links as you prefer – to the comments.