FieldSongs — THEY ARE ROSES

Isabel of Aragon married King Denis of Portugal in 1282, at only 11 years old. Her kindness towards the people generated tensions at court, as the king feared that the royal coffers would be emptied by her alms. It was customary for the queen to frequently leave the castle to distribute bread to the needy. One winter morning, the King, suspicious, intercepted her and asked what she was hiding in her cloak. The Queen then replied, "They are roses, my Lord!"; and, upon opening her cloak, instead of the loaves of bread she had hidden, beautiful, fresh, and fragrant roses fell to the ground, even though it was not the season for blooming. Her legend is marked not only by her extreme kindness towards the people, but also by her ability to intervene for peace, having managed to stop an imminent civil war between her husband and her son. She was canonized in 1625 by Pope Urban VIII, and from then on she became known as Rainha Santa (Saint Queen) Isabel. ________________________________________________________________________ [Verse 1] In Aragon her tale began, A child-bride crossing sea and land, To Denis' court she came one day, With gentle heart to light the way. [Verse 2] She walked among the poor unseen, Through winter roads and fields between, With hidden loaves beneath her gown, She brought God's mercy through the town. [Chorus] People called her a saint: "Our Queen Saint..." So gently she moved by, "Our Queen is a saint With heaven on her side". And where the winter winds had blown, Warm food appeared on frozen stone, "Our Queen is a saint", And her name still survives. [Verse 3] The king grew wary of her hand, For gifts flowed freely through the land, He feared the treasury would fade, By every act of love she made. [Verse 4] One frosted dawn he barred her way, And asked what she concealed that day, She opened wide her humble cloak, And then the hand of heaven spoke. [Chorus] "They are roses, my Lord..." (roses, my Lord...) So softly she replied, "They are roses, my Lord," With heaven at her side. And where the winter winds had blown, Bright blooms appeared on frozen stone, "They are roses, my Lord," The wonder still survives. [Verse 5] Yet greater still her gift of peace, When bitter quarrels would not cease, Between her husband and her son, She stood until their wrath was done. [Verse 6] The years went by, her name endured, Her grace in every heart was stored, And saints and kings alike would tell, How Isabel had served so well. [Bridge] No crown can shine as bright as bread, Placed in the hands of those unfed, No sword can guard a realm so long, As mercy woven into song. [Chorus] "They are roses, my Lord..." (roses, my Lord...) The words still cross the years, "They are roses, my Lord," Still blooming through our tears. And where the winter winds had blown, Bright blooms appeared on frozen stone, "They are roses, my Lord," The wonder still survives. [Final Chorus] "They are roses, my Lord..." (roses, my Lord...) Let every bell proclaim, "They are roses, my Lord," Remember now her name. Through storm and frost, through war and strife, She scattered hope and sheltered life, "They are roses, my Lord," Forever they shall rise. [Outro] When winter darkens field and road, And hearts grow weary from the load, Remember her, the saintly guide, Whose roses bloom where faith resides. "They are roses, my Lord... Roses, my Lord... They are r0oses, my Lord... They are roses, my Lord... Roses, my Lord... They are roses, my Lord..."