From the recording In the Earth's Fading Light
Kristina Stykos: vocals and guitar
Bela Fleck: banjo
Produced by Kristina Stykos.
Recorded by Kristina Stykos at Pepperbox Studio, Chelsea VT except for Karen Almquist’s track recorded at Red Rooster Studio, Berkeley CA, and Bela Flecks tracks recorded on the road.
Edited, mixed and mastered by Corin Nelsen at Imaginary Road Studios, Windham County VT.
Lyrics
The Delaware Side
(c) 2005 Kristina Stykos/BMI/Horse Thief Publishing
It’s not hard to explain
It’s just hard to feel this pain
I was young; I was unafraid
Drawn just like a moth to the flame
He was standing by the fire, shaking off the snow
Now I’m thinking that I done wrong - I'll guess I’ll never know
His old coat was tattered and blue, his eyes shone like gold
He knew the land like the back of his hand; he asked me to go
I’m already gone, I'll love you while the night is long
I’m already free, free to take your love with me
Oh, freedom
My father forbid me to go
Anywhere near the troops in town
He said a girl’s proper place is at home
And that we owed it to the crown
But my blue soldier was my country, my blue soldier was king
We lay down on the blade of his knife, he gave me his ring
I looked up at his face so fair, our fates closer than twine
I still feel the caress of his hair, falling
I’m already gone, I'll love you while the night is long
I’m already free, free to take your love with me
Oh, freedom
I left under the cover of night
To that empty place up the hollow
I held close to my dark pony’s mane
And proceeded to my sorrow
His bare back in the pale moonlight, her form slipping away
Curse the night and the bitter hand that I was forced to play
Nevermore like an old plum tree, withered on the vine
Nevermore, just the memories, of our sweetest times
I’m already gone, I'll love you while the night is long
I’m already free, free to take your love with me
I was just seventeen on that day
When they took my blue soldier away
On my heart there a secret I wore
Standing like a stone in the door
Now I’m thinking that I done wrong, I can feel the shame
Burning hot like a wasted fire, pouring down like rain
Rain in the gutter or rain in the sea, ain’t no difference how
Just one big old river of life, too wide to cross now
I’m already gone, I'll love you while the night is long
I’m already free, free to take your love with me