Elder

Elder, elder

Watched a bird tend its nest

Its coming and going put my mind at rest

And it told me to go outside

That this was the time this time was right

Cherry blossom, rowan flower too

Hawthorn buds and deadnettle in bloom

And so green green

Dark green were the leaves of Elder too

And roots, roots

Let me lie above your roots

Green shoots, shoots

Let me eat your spring shoots

That cleanse the cold from my blood

Like the leaves through the air above me

Elder, elder

Last night I had a dream I burnt your branches down

I cut your fingers and I burnt your crown

And someone made a whistle and someone made a pipe

And someone hollowed you through to blow our fire alive

And so green, green

Dark green were the leaves of elder you

And roots, roots

Let me play beneath your roots

Green shoots, shoots

Let me eat your spring shoots

That cleans the cold in my veins

And like the sun it lengthens my days

Elder, elder

Elder, elder

Elder, elder