Horslips - The Story lyrics
rate meOne night in bed, the promiscuous Connacht Queen, Maeve, quarrels with her<br />
Husband Ailill. They argue over who has the most wealth. Ailill doesn't<br />
Like the suggestion that he's a kept man. "Her words were sharp; they cut<br />
Him deep, in a war between the sheets". Ailill's magnificent White Bull is<br />
The deciding factor in their subsequent measuring of possessions. Maeve's<br />
A bad loser. Mac Roth, her messenger, goes to Cooley to rent the famed<br />
Brown Bull for a year, thus giving Maeve the decider. "I once told her where<br />
She could find her dream". The Bull's owner is agreeable until Mac Roth and<br />
His party get very drunk and reveal that had they not been allowed to borrow<br />
The bull they would have taken it by force. The deal breaks down. They go<br />
Home emptyhanded. Maeve decides on war.<br />
Having marshalled all her warriors, and allies from Munster and Tara, and<br />
With Ailill's six brothers and their armies standing by Maeve receives<br />
Favourable omens from her Druids. The long march to Cooley begins. "The<br />
Champions and the Seven Sons are come to take away the Donn". However, a<br />
Sorceress appears and warns Maeve of impending defeat at the hand of Dearg<br />
Doom, Cu Chulainn. "Saw the host stained red in war, saw the hero-light<br />
Around the head of a dragon-boy". The warning is ignored.<br />
Meanwhile, the men of Ulster are I'll with labour pains - the legacy of a<br />
Curse put on them for their inhuman treatment of a pregnant woman. The one<br />
Man exempt from this curse is Cu Chulainn, whose very birth is shrouded in<br />
Mystery. Singlehandedly he takes on the defence of Ulster, harassing Maeve's<br />
Soldiers, "And like a hawk I'll swoop and swoop again", beheading those who<br />
Stray from the main force. "You can hear me shout 'two heads are better than<br />
None. One hundred heads are so much better than one'". Cu Chulainn is a<br />
Hard man. Originally called Setanta, he became known as Cu Chulainn, the<br />
Hound of Culann, because of his savagery. As the Connacht losses grow<br />
Greater, the deposed King of Ulster, Fergus MacRoich, who is having a secret<br />
Affair with Maeve, meets Cu Chulainn and arranges a treaty. Cu Chulainn<br />
Agrees to singlehanded combat with any Connacht champion provided Maeve's<br />
Army does not advance. One by one, day after day he defeats each warrior<br />
Until eventually he faces his old foster-brother and close friend Ferdia.<br />
Cu Chulainn pleads with Ferdia to leave. "But Ferdia just laughed and shook<br />
His golden head and then they fell to battle again". For three days they<br />
Fight at a ford and appear evenly matched until on the third day Cu Chulainn<br />
Flies into a rage and lets loose his supernatural javelin, the terrible Gae<br />
Bolga, which destroys his friend. As Ferdia falls Cu Chulainn catches him<br />
And carries him to the riverbank, lamenting. "Life was a game, Now I miss<br />
Your name; your golden hair". Then overcome by despair Cu Chulainn abandons<br />
The fight.<br />
Maeve's army moves south with the stolen bull. The Ulster men rally and<br />
With Cu Chulainn in their ranks they give chase. "But before you hit off,<br />
Let me say this time you bit off more than you can chew". The Morrigan,<br />
Queen of Demons, who has been encouraging slaughter all along, prophesies<br />
The outcome. In the battle which follows the Connacht army is routed.<br />
"It seems our fortunes lied despite our gain. Our tears fall like our<br />
Pride". Maeve's life is spared by Cu Chulainn. As the Ulstermen are taking<br />
The Brown Bull home, they meet Ailill's Bull, the White-Horned one. The Donn<br />
Immediately attacks the White. "You can fool them alright but can you fool<br />
The beast"? All day and night they are locked in combat. Morning sees the<br />
Donn victorious. The armies consider destroying him, the cause of all their<br />
Suffering, but leave him as, dying, he staggers homewards.
