Music Monday: Storm King

On April 17, 2012, singer-songwriter Dar Williams released the album "In the Time of Gods." Most of the songs on the album were based on the mythology of ancient Greece, but one song seems to have slipped by - "Storm King," based on the beauty and legend of Storm King Mountain at Cornwall, NY. 

"Storm King" Lyrics
The clouds will form a crown, 
Circling the rocky mountaintop, 
Telling us the rain is coming soon, 
As we sail the river up and down

The storm king has borne the seasons all, 
Worn them upon his brow, 
He guides the watchful boats below, 
I am the storm king now.

He is bemused, sometimes delighted, 
Sees the trains, the hikers on the hill
In our progress and our industry
May we grow better still.

The storm king has seen us from above, 
Rising up on the starboard bow
He knows the turning of the years
I am the storm king now.

The storm king has borne the seasons all, 
Worn them upon his brow, 
He guides the watchful boats below, 
I am the storm king now.
I am the storm king now. 

And for those of you who love Dar Williams for the poetry of her songwriting, Hank Beukema has combined Williams' two Hudson River songs - "The Hudson" and "Storm King" into one beautiful, spoken-word video. 

​Which is your favorite? We think both Dar's song and the poetry of the lyrics as read by Hank are equally beautiful!

​Thanks to HRMM volunteer Mark Heller for sharing his knowledge of Hudson River music history for this series.

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