Loreena McKennitt - The Lady of Shalott

What is it with time limits on the radio? Perhaps Billy Joel said it best: "If you're gonna have a hit, you gotta make it fit, so they cut it down to 3:05." Picture an art museum that restricted paintings to no more than four feet on a side.

This song runs about eleven and a half minutes. It's a portion of the Arthurian poem of the same name, penned by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. It was put to song by Canadian-born Celtic singer, Loreena McKennitt on her album The Visit.

For her next album, The Book of Secrets, she put another poem to song, this time "The Highwayman" by Alfred Noyes.

Especially recommended if you like:

• Narrative poetry
• Arthurian legend