ve from the field
Poppies red and roses filled with summer rain

To heal the wound and still the pain
That threatens again and again
As you drag down every lover's lane

Life's long celebration's here
I'll toast you all in penny cheer

Let me bring you all things refined
Galliards and lute songs served in chilling ale

Greetings well met, fellow, hail!
I am the wind to fill your sail
I am the cross to take your nail

A singer of these ageless times
With kitchen prose and gutter rhymes

Songs from the wood
Make you feel much better
Songs from the wood
Make you feel much better



Jack-In-The-Green

(Anderson)

Have you seen Jack-In-The-Green?
With his long tail hanging down
He quietly sits under every tree
In the folds of his velvet gown

He drinks from the empty acorn cup
The dew that dawn sweetly bestows
And taps his cane upon the ground
Signals the snowdrops it's time to grow

It's no fun being Jack-In-The-Green
No place to dance, no time for song
He wears the colours of the summer soldier
Carries the green flag all the winter long

Jack, do you never sleep?
Does the green still run deep in your heart?
Or will these changing times
Motorways, powerlines, keep us apart?

Well, I don't think so
I saw some grass growing through the pavements today

The rowan, the oak and the holly tree
Are the charges left for you to groom
Each blade of grass whispers:
"Jack-In-The-Green!"

Oh, Jack! Please, help me through my winter's night
And we are the berries on the holly tree?
Oh, the mistlethrush is coming
Jack, put out the light



Cup of wonder

(Anderson)

May I make my fond excuses
For the lateness of the hour?
But we accept your invitation
And we bring you Beltane's flower

For the may day is the great day
Sung along the old straight track
And those who ancient lines did lay
Will heed the song that calls them back

Pass the word and pass the lady
Pass the plate to all who hunger
Pass the wit of ancient wisdom
Pass the cup of crimson wonder

Ask the green man where he comes from
Ask the cup that fills with red
Ask the old grey standing stones
That show the sun its way to bed

Question all as to their ways
And learn the secrets that they hold
Walk the lines of nature's palm
Crossed with silver and with gold

Pass the cup and pass the lady
Pass the plate to all who hunger
Pass the wit of ancient wisdom
Pass the cup of crimson wonder

Join in black december's sadness
Lie in august's welcome corn
Stir the cup that's ever filling
With the blood of all that's born

But the may day is the great day
Sung along the old straight track
And those who ancient lines did lay
Will heed this song that calls them back

Pass the word and pass the lady
Pass the plate to all who hunger
Pass the wit of ancient wisdom
Pass the cup of crimson wonder



Hunting girl

(Anderson)

One day I walked the road
And crossed a field to go by where the hounds ran hard
And on the master raced
Behind the hunters chased to where the path was barred

One fine young lady's horse
Refused the fence to clear
I unlocked the gate but she did wait
Until the pack had disappeared

Crop handle carved in bone
Sat high upon a throne of finest english leather
The queen of all the pack
This joker raised his hat and talked about the weather

All should be warned
About this high born hunting girl
She took this simple man's downfall in hand
I raised the flag that she unfurled

Boot leather flashing and spurnecks the size of my thumb
This highborn hunter had tastes as strange as they come
Unbridled passion, I took the bit in my teeth
Her standing over me on my knees underneath

My lady, be discrete
I must get to my feet and go back to the farm
Whilst I appreciate
You are no deviate, I might come to some harm

I'm not inclined to acts refined
If that's how it goes
Oh, high born hunting girl
I'm just a normal low born so and so



Ring out, solstice bells

(Anderson)

Now is the solstice of the year
Winter is the glad song that you hear
Seven maids move in seven time
Have the lads up ready in a line

Ring out these bells
Ring out, ring solstice bells
Ring solstice bells

Join together beneath the mistletoe
By the holy oak where on it grows
Seven druids dance in seven time
Sing the song, the bells call, loudly chiming

Ring out these bells
Ring out, ring solstice bells
Ring solstice bells

Praise be to the distant sister sun
Joyful as the silver planets run
Seven maids move in seven time
Sing the song, the bells call, loudly chiming

Ring out those bells
Ring out, ring solstice bells
Ring solstice bells

Ring on, ring out
Ring on, ring out



Velvet green

(Anderson)

Walking on velvet green
Scots pine growing
Isn't it rare to be taking the air? Singing
Walking on velvet green

Walking on velvet green
Distant cows lowing
Never a care with your legs in the air, loving
Walking on velvet green

Won't you have my company? Yes, take it in your hands
Go down on velvet green with a country man
Who's a young girls fancy and an old maid's dream?
Tell your mother that you walked all night on velvet green

One dusky half hour's ride up to the north
There lies your reputation and all that you're worth
Where the scent of wild roses turns the milk to cream
Tell your mother that you walked all night on velvet green

And the long grass blows in the evening cool
And august's rare delight may be april's fool
But think not of that, my love, I'm tight against the seam
And I'm growing up to meet you down on velvet green

Now I may tell you that it's love and not just lust
And if we live the lie, let's lie in trust
On golden daffodils to catch the silver stream
That washes out the wild oat seed on velvet green

We'll dream as lovers under the stars
Of civilizations raging afar
And the ragged dawn breaks on your battle scars
As you walk home cold and alone upon velvet green

Walking on velvet green
Scots pine growing
Isn't it rare to be taking the air? Singing
Walking on velvet green

Walking on velvet green
Distant cows lowing
Never a care with your legs in the air, loving
Walking on velvet green



The whistler

(Anderson)

I'll buy you six bay mares to put in your stable
Six golden apples bought with my pay
I am the first piper who calls the sweet tune
But I must be gone by the seventh day

So come on, I'm the whistler
I have a fife and a drum to play
Get ready for the whistler
I whistle along on the seventh day

Whistle along on the seventh day

All kinds of sadness I've left behind me
Many's the day when I have done wrong
But I'll be yours forever and ever
Climb in the saddle and whistle along

So come on, I'm the whistler
I have a fife and a drum to play
Get ready for the whistler
I whistle along on the seventh day

Whistle along on the seventh day

Deep red are the sunsets in mystical places
Black are the nights on summer day sands
We'll find the speck of truth in each riddle
Hold the first grain of love in our hands

So come on, I'm the whistler
I have a fife and a drum to play
Get ready for the whistler
I whistle along on the seventh day

Whistle along on the seventh day



Pibroch (cap in hand)

(Anderson)

There's a light in the house
In the wood, in the valley
There's a thought in the head of the man

Who carries his dreams
Like the coat slung on his shoulder
Bringing you love in the cap in his hand

And each step he takes
Is one half of a lifetime
No word he would say could you understand

So he bundles his regrets
Into a gesture of sorrow
Bringing you love, cap in hand

Catching breath
As he looks through the dining room window
Candle lit, table for two has been laid

Strange slippers by the fire
Strange boots in the hallway
Put my cap on my head, I turn and walk away



Fire at midnight

(Anderson)

I believe in fires at midnight
When the dogs have all been fed
A golden toddy on the mantle
A broken gun beneath the bed

Silken mist outside the window
Frogs and newts slip in the dark
Too much hurry ruins the body
I'll sit easy, fan the spark

Kindled by the dying embers
Of another working day
Go upstairs, take off your make up
Fold your clothes neatly away

Me, I'll sit and write this love song
As I all too seldom do
Build a little fire this midnight
It's good to be back home with you