Eagle Stone

2 weeks ago by @berni1954

Eagle Stone

berni1954

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Liner Notes

This song was written for the Brewer's Droop challenge.
The prompt I received was "Eagle Stone" - I had never heard of this folk remedy for childlessness, but apparently it was a procedure as old as the Ancient Greeks... and perhaps before them.

I read up about it yesterday and this morning I was lying in bed imagining who today might be desperate enough to try this ancient remedy. The characters Bertha and Werner just came into my head and the story just wrote itself after that. No idea why the protagonists were German, perhaps as a contrast between German Rationalism and superstition. Thank you anyway, Ms Muse. 😉

I had planned to get in the song the idea that Bertha was aware of the "birth" within her name and the irony that she was finding it hard to bring a pregnancy to full term. But in the end it just seemed to interfere with the narrative and I abandoned the idea.

Instrument: Baton Rouge Parlour Guitar (great value for money instrument!)

#brewersdroop #acoustic #guitar

Lyrics

Bertha and Werner had left it late
To think of having a child
With her in her thirties by nature's mandate
She felt compelled though reconciled
But miscarriages plagued them and after the fifth
It seemed that it wasn't to be
Then in desperation she turned to the occult
Though she knew there was no guarantee

I'll carry you within me, oh longed for child
I'll bear you on eagles' wings
You'll be my miracle, oh my sweet love
To her unborn child Bertha sings

She was told of the Eagle Stone by a good friend
Of Pliny, Theophrastus and others
An iron-heavy stone that rattled when shook
That protected expectant mothers
They paid a small fortune for an amulet
The size of a walnut it was
Werner was sceptical, but Bertha said:
"It's our last chance before menopause!"

CHORUS

For months she wore it on her left arm
As the child within her grew
A healthy young girl the ultrasound said
She prayed that her wish would come true
She moved the amulet to her hips as her contractions came
As the instruction booklet advised
It all went smoothly and in homage to that stone
Their daughter, as Petra, was baptised

I carried you within me, oh longed for child
I bore you on eagles' wings
You were my miracle, oh my sweet love
To her daughter Bertha sings

Three Chord Trick in G

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