Behind the Monitor #CyndiLauper - Sisters of Avalon

"Sisters of Avalon" is a song written with Cyndi Lauper who performs it in concert and on the album "Sisters of Avalon". It is a song about sisterhood - How when a woman cries we can all feel her pain - How we are all connected globally.
In 1994 Cyndi and I were on tour, writing songs and talking about various books we were reading. I was fascinated with 'The White Goddess' by Robert Graves and 'the 21 lessons of Merlyn' whilst Cyndi was reading 'Mists of Avalon' by Marion Zimmer Bradley.
The power of women was a very evident subject in both books, steeped in rich mythology, legends and allegories.
We took the symbolism of the Sisters of Avalon to mean womankind. For us it was all about the symbolism not the historical accuracy.
The chant in this song is a sound of empowerment, a sound of voices singing all over the world. A mystical thread that sews us together into a quilt of many colours. We are all sisters dancing to the distant drum . . .
Cyndi and I were also inspired by a news report played over and over on CNN about a 10 year old girl in Egypt being circumcised. Women all over the world felt her pain, heard her screams and helplessly shuddered in empathy.
We sing and play this song for her and all women who have no voice and celebrate the ones who do.

Sisters of Avalon
Felt someone calling me in the howling of the wind. 
I heard the reflection of a sound echoing through my skin
and a distant drum rumbling under ground gently guides me on 
through my wild heart whispering to me,
the Sisters Of Avalon.
She is awakening in dark swells and mystery. 
Unbridled night mares powerful and running free. 
You could still hear her cries reverberating through the trees 
for the trampled flowers, the daughters of Eve,
the Sisters of Avalon.
They brought her in in a new white dress 
but the stain left an ache on her mother's breast. 
Now all that's left are the ghostly steps from a distant corridor.
and a distant drum rumbling under ground 
gently guides me on through my wild heart whispering to me,
the Sisters Of Avalon.
Words and music Cyndi Lauper and Jan Pulsford 

Footnote: In the mists and legends of time the Sisters were variously portrayed as
the ones who received Arthur onto the island; a group of druid priestesses who fought the Romans; who hung red lanterns outside their homes to show they were the powerful ones; wore black and were revered in the matriarchal society of the early Celts and vilified by the church as it tried to take control of the pagan religions.
Over the years their powers were driven underground but it still rumbles through the caverns of the earth. I believe women, if they listen, can still feel it as they walk together.

Here's a live performance by Cyndi and band in 2004 ( no i'm not there but my friend Kat Dyson is playing guitar - as she did on the record!)