This song was completed in August of 2020, as my farewell and tribute to Queen Margarita De’ Siena of the East, just before she stepped down from her 11-month reign. The first real-time performance was the evening after her decoronation, at the East Kingdom Midrealm Virtual Bardic Showcase.
Her Garden Grows
© 2020 words & music by Eric Schrager
So far from home, from her girlhood as a wand’ring singer,
But her companion has promised her a grand surprise.
Yes, sure enough, that’s a royal coronet he brings her–
Did I just see panic in her eyes?
But that fades, and it becomes a merry twinkle,
As she sees a kingdom hard at work and play.
And her voice is sounding every day more regal,
Sharing praise and kindness as she may…
(CHORUS)
She’s out there singing as her garden grows,
And she tends the earth and plants the seeds,
So gentle yet firm.
Where does she draw the strength from?
No one knows.
But she’s up before the sun is
In her garden as it grows with her.
Now she’s alone, and behind her is our fallen tower;
One night of storm, and her heart is like our shattered land.
There’s no man born, who can heal us in this awful hour:
What’s our realm with no one in command?
Then she stands and promises to do her duty,
Walking with us, step for step and mile for mile.
Shows us all a kingdom that’s awash in beauty,
Lifting up our spirits with her smile…
(CH) She knows what to do / In her garden as it grows anew
She’s never fazed, nothing has the power to alarm her.
Her voice, when raised or a whisper, still commands the hall.
We watch, amazed, as she mounts a horse and fights in armor.
Ever joyous, she inspires us all…
But what’s this? A pestilence has swept upon us.
In our homes we huddle, mourning those struck down.
Yet her voice still marshalls us, devoted, honest,
Heedless of the burdens of the crown…
(CH) In sunshine or rain / In her garden as it grows again
The day has come, she’s returning to the land she hails from.
Her reign is done, one the like of which we’ve never seen.
So well and long, did she steer this ship through every maelstrom,
In my heart, she’ll always be my Queen.
Never flinching, as she faced each trial fateful.
Can our kingdom bear to let this treasure go?
From this distance, will she see we’re ever grateful?
Through my tears, I’m smiling, for I know…
(CHORUS)
She’s out there singing as her garden grows,
And she tends the earth and plants the seeds,
As she’s done before.
Where does she draw the strength from?
No one knows.
But she’s up before the sun is
In her garden as it grows once more.
–up before the sun is
In her garden as it grows once more.
–up before the sun is
In her garden as it grows once more.
Drake Oranwood 