"The Green Man" was written by Bill O'Brien (Birmingham UK) as he watched the change of the seasons in his garden. Bill played the song after Ash played at the Rea River Roots Folk Club at The Tower of Song in Birmingham UK, and gave him permission to perform and record it.
The Green man is a sculptural and pictorial motiff ...[f]ound in many cultures from many ages around the world, the Green Man is often related to natural vegetative deities. It is primarily interpreted as a symbol of rebirth, representing the cycle of growth each spring." (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Man)
Oh, they say that heaven will come to earth
They say that there will be rebirth
But all I know, for what its worth
I only love The Green man
Only love The Green Man
Every spring I've ever known
The trees, the grass the flowers have grown
And their beauty to me has shown
I only love The Green Man
Only love The Green Man
Every beat my heart will make
And every breath I'll ever take
All I do is for his sake
I only love The Green Man
Only love the Green man
When I'm dead and cold as stone
To dust hell grind my flesh and bone
I only love The Green Man
Only love the Green man
He was there when time began
God shared with him the eternal plan
He was in the stable when the angels sang
I only love The Green Man
Only love the Green man
Life is red in tooth and claw
And all observe mother natures law
Yet hell be there forever more
I only love The Green Man
Only love the Green man
Tsunami waves and hurricanes
Land slide slips and acid rains
Through all calamities he still rains
I only trust The Green Man
Oh they say that heaven Transends all time
Is way beyond all reason and rhyme
But if God and I are of like mind
She'll only trust The Green Man
She'll only love The Green man
So if we want to save the earth
For generations of rebirth
We once again must learn his worth
And learn to trust the Green Man
Learn to love The Green Man
COPYRIGHT BILL O'BRIEN ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
credits
from Magic Path 2021,
track released June 9, 2016
The Green man
A song by Bill O’Brien
Music and Lyrics by Bill O'Brien
Adapted by Ash Mandrake
with help from Nathan and Gerry
Ash Mandrake - Guitar and Vocals
Gerry Barnett - Cello
Nathan Lewis Williams - Bouzouki
Recorded in Glastonbury 2016
Cello part written and performed by
Gerry Barnett
Bouzuki part written and performed by
Nathan Lewis Williams
Guitar and vocals performed by
Ash Mandrake
Thanks to Nathan Lewis Williams
for the loan of microphones and help with recording
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