In the Village Smithy

One of the more melancholic ballads. In gentle mandolin and piano, this song tells the tragic tale of two brothers that have gone off to war. Originally blacksmiths that had left their land in order to protect their families, both brothers are forced into service due to their ages, reputation, and ultimately, being renowned as well fought warriors. At some point peace is brought while fighting their enemies, but the older brother is killed in battle and the younger brother survives. In a dying meadow in autumn, the younger brother leans over his dead brother’s body, and ravaged by war itself, and the loss of someone who he looked up too, refuses to accept the death of his closest companion. While he continually asks his dead brother to get up, put on his silver armor again, and return home with him, the younger man can not come to terms of going home himself without him, afraid his own Mother would not recognize him due to that he has changed after the war. He begins to question the purpose of war itself and see’s it as useless and vain. 

From Album: Tales of a Time Before Volume II

Type: Single Song

Instrument: Mandolin and Piano

Length: 5 min

Genre: War Torn Ballad

File Type: MP4 

Composer and Lyricist: Jack Buie