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