Ironhead by Dave Walmsley from Barrow-in-furness United Kingdom

ironhead (6.34)
arranged & performed by dave walmsley (c) 2023 silent songs
music ~ dw
lyrics ~ dw/rm-s
a short cat production of an exceedingly heavy folk recording
recorded in the musical box using the reaper daw

inspired by the folk tale “ironhead” by ruth manning-sanders from her book “a book of devils & demons” (c) the estate of ruth manning-sanders. well worth a read along with r m-s's other collections of old folk tales... dw

the le of the story (“ironhead”) immediately made me think of writing a very “heavy folk” backing track to accompany the narrative. the lyrical theme takes place after peter breaks his promise to the demon ironhead and marries (despite being a short story, there's an awful lot going on which would've taken a considerably longer song to fit it all in ~ so i stuck to the chase section). the demon chases him all the way to the ends of the earth where peter finds salvation by enlisting the help of 3 old crones and their gift of 3 napkins (to part a raging fire) and 3 cakes which turn into 3 fierce dogs ~ who tear the demon to pieces!!! never mess with old ladies who dish out confectionery... dw

narrator:
i have a story to tell you...
a tale of peter and the demon ironhead...
a story of wealth and an oath given freely...
how peter's very life hung by a thread...

when ironhead came looking for peter ..
and the broken promise that he held within...
to the ends of the earth peter fled...
but he could not escape his mortal sin...

are you sitting comfortably?
sit back and i'll begin...

i made a promise to the demon ironhead...
that i would never marry a simple thing to be sure..
some promises are far too easily broken...
some promises are far too cruel to endure...

“ride peter ride as fast as you can...”
the angry demon shrieked with unrelenting fury...
onward and onward through seven countries peter rode...
as night follows day the demon would catch him surely?

away away he sped never daring to look behind...
away away over hill and dale...
away away he fled to the ends of the earth...
peter rode like the wind with the demon hot on his tale..

after seven days and nights peter came upon a wall of fire...
he struck the flames three times and they parted to let him through...
the fire closed with the demon stuck on the other side...
he raged and ranted as his temper grew and grew...

“ah promise breaker, you have escaped me this time...
if i have to wait till eternity i will catch you yet!”
so the demon paced on the other side while peter rode away...
and as he paced he swore to himself that he would never forget...

away away peter rode never daring to look behind...
away away over hill and dale...
away away he fled to the ends of the earth...
let me tell you this is not the end of the tale...

narrator:
after months of waiting...
the demon finally cornered the lad...
“oh my dogs my dogs!” wailed peter...
“i am at the point of death!
will you come and save me?
iron-strong world's-weight, quick-ear come come come...
save me or i perish!”
and the dogs came and tore the demon into little pieces...