OAK, ASH, AND THORN



(E) Am Em Am / Am Dm Am

Am - / Am - / Am - / Am Dm Am



Of all the trees that grow so fair, old England to adorn,

Greater are none beneath the sun than Oak, and Ash, and Thorn.



Sing Oak, and Ash, and Thorn good sirs,

All on a midsummer's morn.

Surely we sing of no little thing

In Oak, and Ash, and Thorn.



Oak of the clay lived many a day o'er ever Aeneas began

Ash of the loam was a lady at home when Brut was an outlaw man,

And Thorn of the down saw new Troy town, from which was London born

Witness hereby the ancient try of Oak, and Ash, and Thorn.



Sing . . .

Yew that is old, in churchyard mould, he breedeth a mighty bow

Alder for shoes do wise men choose, and Beech for cups also

But when you have killed, and you bowl it is filled, and your

shoes are clean outworn

Back you must speed for all that you need to Oak, and Ash, and Thorn



Sing . . .



Elm, she hates mankind, and waits till every gust be laid,

To drop a limb on the head of him that anyway trusts her shade,

But whether a lad be sober or sad, or mellow with ale from the

horn,

He'll taketh no wrong when he lyeth along 'neath Oak, and Ash, and

Thorn



Sing . . .



Oh, do not tell the priest our plight, or he would call it a sin,

But we've been out in the woods all night, a-conjuring summer in,

And we bring you good news by word of mouth, good news for cattle

and corn

Now is the sun come up from the south, by Oak, and Ash, and

Thorn.



Sing . . .

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Recorded by John Roberts and Tony Barrand on Dark Ships in

the Forest, Folk Legacy FSI65

Rudyard Kipling's "A Tree Song" sets the scene for the

stories and poems of "Puck of Pook's Hill." This setting of the

verses is by Peter Bellamy of Norwich, who, since the breakup of

the Young Tradition, has become one of Britain's best known

exponents of traditional song. He has arranged a considerable

number of Kipling's "songs," using original melodies or adapting

traditional ones. This tune is his own.

@magic @seasonal @tree @plant

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