The Lost Words Blessing

Spell Songs is a musical evolution of both The Lost Words & The Lost Spells books by acclaimed author Robert Macfarlane and award-winning illustrator Jackie Morris; featuring the multifaceted talents and collaborative genius of Karine Polwart, Julie Fowlis, Seckou Keita, Kris Drever, Rachel Newton, Beth Porter and Jim Molyneux.

Find out more about Spell Songs and order our albums here:

Our first album (The Lost Words: Spell Songs - 2019) concludes with The Lost Words Blessing. It is offered both in hope and light, and in grief for the losses and dark times yet to come. We are proud and delighted to share this beautiful video of the creative journey. Filmed by Elly Lucas Photography and edited by Ben Davis of Dot + Diode.

Karine Polwart suggested the idea of a blessing that borrows images and phrases from many of The Lost Words spells by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris (Bluebell, Dandelion, Fern, Heather, Heron, Kingfisher, Lark, Otter, Raven and Starling), as well as from new spells (Goldfinch and Grey Seal). The form is inspired by blessings in Scottish Gaelic, particularly from a beautiful collection of charms and incantations called Carmina Gadelica.

The Lost Words Blessing

Enter the wild with care, my love
And speak the things you see
Let new names take and root and thrive and grow
And even as you travel far from heather, crag and river
May you like the little fisher, set the stream alight with glitter
May you enter now as otter without falter into water

Look to the sky with care, my love
And speak the things you see
Let new names take and root and thrive and grow
And even as you journey on past dying stars exploding
Like the gilded one in flight, leave your little gifts of light
And in the dead of night my darling, find the gleaming eye of starling
Like the little aviator, sing your heart to all dark matter

Walk through the world with care, my love
And sing the things you see
Let new names take and root and thrive and grow
And even as you stumble through machair sands eroding
Let the fern unfurl your grieving, let the heron still your breathing
Let the selkie swim you deeper, oh my little silver-seeker
Even as the hour grows bleaker, be the singer and the speaker
And in city and in forest, let the larks become your chorus
And when every hope is gone, let the raven call you home

Find out more about Spell Songs and order our albums here:

[bobnunn]

The emotion and tears start with "Enter the wild with care my love ..", then build and build, until you don't think you have any more of yourself to give. And then the song hits you with "And when every hope is gone, let the raven call you home."

[mindydember]

One month ago, she didn't breathe anymore. She stopped thinking, talking, laughing, crying, but she gave me her love. Now, she is in spirit and in my mind. Her voice, her dreams, her ideas, her pain are gone. Mom. I miss you.❤

[caroledriver]

This is the song for my beloved son Alex who died a year ago. A man who loved the little creatures so dear. The most moving song I know, thank you for this.

[STrobairitz]

To those who have sent this out, words and music, in a blessing, may it return to you a thousand fold, with rose petals upon your heads.

[bitexhd]

30/8/2023 7.15 p.m. this is the song of nature, the earth and connects us to it in the ancient way yet, it is modern. It is the most beautiful song I have ever heard.

[rickharlan]

Enter the wild with care, my love
And speak the things you see
Let new names take and root and thrive and grow
And even as you travel far from heather, crag and river
May you like the little fisher set the stream alight with glitter
May you enter now as otter without falter into water

Look to the sky with care, my love
And speak the things you see
Let new names take and root and thrive and grow
And even as you journey on past dying stars exploding
Like the gilded one in flight, leave your little gifts of light
And in the dead of night, my darling
Find the gleaming eye of starling
Like the little aviator, sing your heart to all dark matter
♪

Walk through the world with care, my love
And sing the things you see
Let new names take and root and thrive and grow
And even as you stumble through machair sands eroding
Let the fern unfurl your grieving, let the heron still your breathing
Let the selkies swim you deeper
Oh, my little silver seeker
Even as the hour grows bleaker, be the singer and the speaker
And in city and in forest, let the larks become your chorus
And when every hope is gone
Let the raven call you home

[fransnehemia]

Enter the wild with care, my love
And speak the things you see
Let new names take and root and thrive and grow
And even as you travel far from heather, crag and river
May you like the little fisher, set the stream alight with glitter
May you enter now as otter without falter into water

Look to the sky with care, my love
And speak the things you see
Let new names take and root and thrive and grow
And even as you journey on past dying stars exploding
Like the gilded one in flight, leave your little gifts of light
And in the dead of night my darling, find the gleaming eye of starling
Like the little aviator, sing your heart to all dark matter

Walk through the world with care, my love
And sing the things you see
Let new names take and root and thrive and grow
And even as you stumble through machair sands eroding
Let the fern unfurl your grieving, let the heron still your breathing
Let the selkie swim you deeper, oh my little silver-seeker
Even as the hour grows bleaker, be the singer and the speaker
And in city and in forest, let the larks become your chorus
And when every hope is gone, let the raven call you home

[callumsmackay]

I wept when I first heard this on Scotland Outdoors pod last year which feels like a lifetime ago and I still weep when I hear it today. The unbearable beauty of this song connects deep within my soul. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for bringing this miracle into the world.

[francesrose]

Like many people, I also had this song played at my mother's funeral. She loved nature, was a vegan for decades, she would be sad to know that these beautiful words are lost to generations to come xx

[bridiebriar]

I cry my arse off every time I listen to this song. Thank you so much for helping me reach the depths of my grief.

[agrarianrevolution]

We need this magic more than ever in these times.

[pagangill]

I think I've never grieved so deeply, or cried so freely, at the heartbreaking pain of the losses this world endures, as I do at this moment

[francesrose]

I had this beautiful song played at mums funeral. It fitted my mum perfectly, she was a free spirit who loved nature and would be bereft at the idea of these words being lost to future generations.

[MerhlinsPlace]

This song (recording) must be played at any memorial service held for me. (I'm seventy and so far, in reasonably good shape for a man my age.) As others (below/above) have stated, this really strikes a "chord" with me. I'm a retired music teacher (voice/choir) and also a lover of photography, in particular bird photography. The lyrics speak to me on different levels. Thanks for sharing this.

[dhawan]

This stopped me dead in my tracks. It's so utterly gorgeous, I feel it inside me. Tears are rolling down my cheeks.

[maryfrancesoconnor]

We played this as the soundtrack to the slideshow at the crematorium after my mum's requiem mass this year....she had loved listening to it in her last months. It was perfect...almost every single person at the service asked what the beautiful music was. Thank you Lost Words. ❤

[whitneymacdonald]

This is so amazing. I was looking for a song to sing for a blessing to my son at a gathering of the men in his life before his wedding and this was the first thing I came across when I searched, "Blessing songs." It couldn't be more ideal, for many reasons not the least of which is my Scottish heritage and the many days and weeks my son and I have spent in nature together. I humbly made a few changes to the last verse to make it a little more forward looking and hopeful without losing the gist. I offer changes here in case anyone else would like to see them. Thanks so much for such a beautiful song:
Walk through the world with care, my love
And sing the things you see
Let new names take and root and thrive and grow
And even if you stumble through machair sands eroding
Let the fern unfurl your grieving, let the heron still your breathing
Let the selkie swim you deeper, oh my little silver-seeker
Even if the hour grows bleaker, be the singer and the speaker
And in city and in forest, let the larks become your chorus
And if your strength is waning, let the raven call you home

[norrdavind]

The most beautiful song of this age. I cry everytime for our great loss defending our homelands

[lilithrogers]

Oh, what a perfect farewell song for my dear friend who's spirit we relesed today..thank you...

[dancingwolf]

The Blessing Of Tears


My tears find Sacred Ground
these liquid jewels do thank the Earth
from a place as profound
the feeling Heart giving healing, birth



Hearing The Lost Words Blessing
my attention elevates it’s duty
Yes it all needs addressing
The Grief, The Joy, The Beauty


With Great Gratitude To You All

Dancing Wolf
December14, 2019