one wintry night a wondrous sight i met while riding back returning from a cilidh with me fiddle in me pack my horse he stopped quite suddenly his ears began to twitch he bucked and threw me pack and all into a nearby ditch i tried to rise but then my eyes alighted on a scene of faerie creatures dancing by cavorting round their queen she d been out hunting it was plain delighted by her prize and though he was in thrall to her i knew his gentle eyes i stood again and shouted when they drew abreast of me i challenge you for you have caught my husband soon to be they stopped and she stared down at me the queen astride her steed i see you have the courage dear but skill is what you need be it carved from out the finest wood or strung with silver string only mortal trust or faerie dust can make a fiddle sing we each shall play and i will say which fiddle is played best and should you win this mortal toy i ll free without protest they handed her a violin as black as she was fey she placed her bow upon the strings and then began to play my spirit low i raised my bow and knew not where to start i looked within my lover s eyes and then within my heart my head was filled with mortal dreams of love beneath the moon of sun and rain and season s change and so began my tune i raised my head my arms like lead my heart ablaze once more the faerie queen looked down on me shaken to the core i ve played for many centuries yet by the stars above you ve taught me skill is not enough it can t compare to love be it carved from out the finest wood or strung with silver string only mortal trust or faerie dust can make a fiddle sing it s carved from out the finest wood and strung with silver string but only mortal trust or faerie dust can make my fiddle sing 