Jackie Hird

[Intro]
Verse 1
Wavering on the edge of belief
That my heart can feel sweet relief
That my body can slow and let go
And creative energy start to flow
Verse 2
I swallow the air, feel the ground
The trees and the birds a gentle sound
I sit and pray in this quiet place
Honour my life and give it space
Chorus
To be just what it needs to be
Revealing a wiser, gentler me
My feet soak up each passing day
My fingers with the wind will play
Verse 3
No rush for the wide world to approve
allow some space for the spirit to move
A fire, a path wound through the trees
A quiet return accepting peace
Bridge
Birds fly high, they know my name
I watch their song float across each plain
A story remembered, an ancient song
Of one pretender who learned to belong
Final Chorus
To be just what it needs to be
Revealing a softer gentler me
My feet soak up each passing day
My fingers with the wind will play

Verse1
There’s a path lit with fireflies of hope,
it’s steep and it’s rocky, I’m holding the rope.
I pull at the future, I step from the shame,
whisper to her, “Life won’t be the same.”
I was just a wee girl trying so hard to please,
Lost in the want, brought down to my knees.
But I sit with the ache, I let the dust shake,
I rise from the hollow, that fear did create

Chorus
Oh, I am part of the fabric, the dawn and the light,
There are stars that still shine in the day and the night.
Hard to see sometimes, but I’m holding them tight,
I am healing, I am healing — I will be alright.

Verse 2
I’ll touch her sweet freckles, hold her soft hand,
Tell her she’s loved and beside her I stand.
deserved so much more than the gifts they gave,
the earth and her wildness are teaching me brave.
Wounds still echo in the mind of the past,
But I’ll stitch them with love, freely given at last.
Each day brings a challenge, quiet and slow,
But I’m learning the truth of the woman I know.





Chorus
Oh, I am part of the fabric, the dawn and the light,
There are stars that still shine in the day and the night.
Hard to see sometimes, but I’m holding them tight,
I am healing, I am healing — I will be alright.

Bridge
The rope may be fraying, the climb may be long,
But I’m not that lost little child anymore.
I gather the pieces, I carry them home,
And I build something gentle from what once was torn.

Yes, I am part of the fabric, the dawn and the light,
And I’ll weather new storms; I will hold myself tight
stars still shining — I see them tonight,
I am healing, I am healing…
I step into light.
I step into my light

Verse 1
When the velvet dark of Shetland skies
Drifts gently from my eyes,
Please don’t mourn too long for me—
Let me tell you why.

Verse 2
I’ll be swept along the coastline wild,
Meandering every stone,
Remembering my childhood days
In the land I called my own.

Chorus
Under stars that softly shine,
Auroras pink and green,
In heather fields and peaty streams—
That’s where I’ll always be.
So stretch your arms into the wind,
Feel the whisper of the sea,
Touch the wilds of Shetland’s soul—
That’s where you’ll find me.

Verse 3
Through deepest Voes and open Glens,
My spirit gently flows,
Back to where my heart belongs,
Where eternal daylight glows.

Verse 4
Where bog cotton leans and dances free,
In fibres soft and light,
My dreams are caught in every breeze
That drifts into the night.

(Repeat Chorus)
Under stars that softly shine,
Auroras pink and green,
In heather fields and peaty streams—
That’s where I’ll always be.
So stretch your arms into the wind,
Feel the whisper of the sea,
Touch the wilds of Shetland’s soul—
That’s where you’ll find me.

Outro
So when you miss my presence near,
Stand calm and let it be—
In every breath of Shetland’s wilds,
That’s where you’ll feel me.

J.Hird © Winner of the Lyric only category in the UK songwriting contest 2025
Won with these lyrics

Gather your strength
Verse 1
I envy the sun that caresses your face
Its touch waking freckles like fingers of lace
I feel that ache seep under my skin
I hold it close so you can begin
To heal the hurt that came before
That hid behind so many closed doors
It swallowed your light, left you in night
But I stand here now, for you I’ll fight
Chorus
Gather your strength and follow me
Into the darkness we cannot see
The trees will stand and guard you well
And water will wash away your hell
Verse 2
Your spirit now free to fly through the land
So reach for me—I’ll take your hand
Breathe in deep and connect with me
And finally let that wild child free
Chorus
Gather your strength and follow me
Into the darkness we cannot see
The trees will stand and guard you well
And water will wash away your hell
Bridge
Paint the skies with the tears in your eyes
Let your fingers reach deep where the earth lies
Regard the story that went before
As lessons that brought you gifts and more
Final Chorus
Gather your strength and walk with me
Through the dawn we now can see
The trees still stand, they know you well
And water sings where shadows fell

Verse 1

Pierce the past with ice in eyes,

His time is spent, the silence cries.

He bows to dusk, the final sigh,

With black streaks drawn beneath the sky.

Verse 2

The turf is peaty, soaked in grief,

Where lie his kin beneath the leaf.

A battle trembles on his face,

Years of rage he can’t erase.

Chorus

Oh, rise again from blackest ground,

Where death once sang without a sound.

The crown may rot, the hope may fade,

But still he walks the war he made.

Verse 3

A crown of wood upon his brow,

Once proud, now soft and splintered.

His thoughts like crows in stormy flight,

No comfort comes, no hand, no light.

Verse 4

Will anything be whole again?

He doubts beneath the falling rain.

But still he calls his scattered men,

To rise once more from death’s dark den.

Bridge

He walks the edge of memory’s flame,

Each footstep carved with loss and name.

The ghosts behind, the storm ahead,

Still he marches, never fled.

Chorus

Oh, rise again from blackest ground,

Where death once sang without a sound.

The crown may rot, the hope may fade,

But still he walks the war he made.So gather now, the broken brave,

From shadow’s edge and silent grave.

The past may pierce, the tears may fall,

But still he stands to heed the call.

Verse 1)
Silently screaming, we witches see,
The pain of others we try to free.
Persecuted, a trail of flames,
Sport to some, their fearsome games.

(Verse 2)
Lift the mask — what lies beneath?
A quiet soul, filled with grief.
For mothers, sisters, slain before,
When men afeard broke down the door.

(Chorus)
Call her crone, call her hag,
She walks the path the healers drag.
With feverfew and garlic root,
She soothes the ache, she speaks the truth.

(Verse 3)
At one with trees, with reeds and rain,
She gathers herbs to ease your pain.
She comes to aid the sorry mind,
With nature’s gifts most leave behind.

(Bridge)
We always fear what we don’t know,
But start to talk, take time to slow.
See through another’s ancient eyes,
A world revealed, no more disguise.

(Chorus)
Call her crone, call her hag,
She walks the path the healers drag.
With feverfew and garlic root,
She soothes the ache, she speaks the truth.

(Outro)
So look and face those called “the witch,”
Let her healing your life enrich.
She’s not the curse, she’s not the flame —
She’s the whisper that calls your name.

to me


Verse 1
With her tresses green unfolding free
And limbs outstretched to comfort me
A mask that speaks of a thousand years
Seen battle, peace, blood and tears.
Chorus
She stands where silence meets the breeze
A whisper held in ancient leaves
Come weary soul, come rest your head
She’ll guard your dreams till morning’s red.
Verse 2
Now though standing as sentry guard
To guide the lost when life is hard
Touch her skin with all its age
Close your eyes and turn your page.
Bridge
She’s rooted deep in earth and lore
A tale of those who came before
Her bark holds songs we’ve long forgot
But still she sings, though we may not.
Final Chorus
She stands where silence meets the breeze
A whisper held in ancient leaves
Come weary soul, come rest your head
She’ll guard your dreams till morning’s red.