We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.
/

about

From our debut CD Argo, released 1996. I set this tune to Rudyard Kipling’s poem ‘A Tree Song’ in his novel ‘Puck of Pook’s Hill’ (first published 1906), celebrating Puck’s three magical trees & Shakespeare’s play ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’. In another volume by Kipling, 'Songs From Books', he added a head date: AD 1200, perhaps to imply ancient origins, such as Virgil's Aeneid and Norse/Germanic god Völund/ Wayland/ Weland; Kipling had read the story 'Weyland's Sword' (that appeared in Strand Magazine 1906) and the 12th century text 'A History of the Kings of Britain' by Geoffrey of Monmouth. For me as an Australian, growing up in the bushland with a Welsh immigrant father, and reading about Narnian dryads, Faeries by Froud and Lee, classical myths, Druids and the Dreaming of the First People here, loving trees felt natural: the message of this song is that we live and die by trees. Now, with climate change, this is an indisputable truth. Quite literally, forests help us to breathe.

lyrics

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 of a Midsummer morn!)
Surely we sing no little thing, in Oak, and Ash, and Thorn!

Oak of the Clay lived many a day, or ever Aeneas began;
Ash of the Loam was a lady at home, when Brut was an outlaw man;
Thorn of the Down saw New Troy Town (From which was London born);
Witness hereby the ancientry of Oak, and Ash, and Thorn!

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 ye have killed, an your bowl is spilled, an your shoes are clean outworn,
Back ye must speed for all that ye need, to Oak, and Ash, and Thorn!

Ellum she hateth mankind, and waiteth 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 will take no wrong when he lieth along ‘neath Oak, and Ash, and Thorn!

Oh, do not tell the Priest our plight, or he would call it a sin;
But - we have been out in the woods all night, a-conjuring Summer in!
And we bring you news by word of mouth - good news for cattle and corn –
Now is the Sun come up from the South, with Oak, and Ash, and Thorn!

Sing Oak, and Ash, and Thorn, good Sirs (All of a Midsummer morn)!
England shall bide till Judgment Tide, by Oak, and Ash, and Thorn!
(Sing Oak and Ash and Thorn! Sing Oak and Ash and Thorn!)

credits

from Hob and Bud - compilation for Faeriecon, released November 30, 2020
Melody & melodic riffs: Louisa John-Krol, early 1990's
Lyrics: Rudyard Kipling, as outlined above
Vocals, lead & backing: Louisa John-Krol
Harpsichord & other Keyboard lines via Midi: main lines/riffs by Louisa John-Krol, embellished with synth soundscaping by Harry Williamson
Percussion, effects & narration of Puck: Harry Williamson
Engineering: Harry Williamson, Spring Studio

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Louisa John-Krol image

Louisa John-Krol Australia

Louisa is an Australian singer, composer, writer & faery storyteller who has released many albums of ethereal music on indie labels, primarily in France. She's completing a fantasy series, The Elderbrook Chronicles, with a soundtrack.

contact / help

Contact Louisa John-Krol

Streaming and
Download help

Report this track or account

Louisa John-Krol recommends:

If you like Louisa John-Krol, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Saxophonist Isaiah Collier chats about his new LP and the influence of Pharoah Sanders.
listen now