Name: Oak, Ash & Thorn
Duration: P00H02M48S
Description: This is based on Kipling’s poem, “A Tree Song”; it’s his light-hearted account of some of the ancient sacred trees of England. He had studied British folklore, and knew a lot more than he told. He also knew a few of the great 19th-century British “occultists”, which included some not-so-covert Pagans.

Oak, Ash & Thorn

from Avalon is Risen by Leslie Fish

supported by

	/

Streaming + Download

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

Purchasable with gift card

$1 USD or more
Buy the Full Digital Album
Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
CD with Leslie's lyrics and liner notes. Custom booklet designed by Bradley Schenck.

Includes unlimited streaming of Avalon is Risen via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

ships out within 3 days

$16 USD or more
Full Digital Discography

5

releases

Get all 5 Leslie Fish releases available on Bandcamp and save 30%.

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Angel with a Sword, Sea of Dreams, Not the Way to Get Laid, Avalon is Risen (The Retro Filk Mix), and Avalon is Risen. , and , .

Purchasable with gift card

$25.90 USD or more (30% OFF)

about

This is based on Kipling’s poem, “A Tree Song”; it’s his light-hearted account of some of the ancient sacred trees of England. He had studied British folklore, and knew a lot more than he told. He also knew a few of the great 19th-century British “occultists”, which included some not-so-covert Pagans.

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’s morn!
Surely we sing of no little thing,
In oak, and ash, and thorn!

Oak of the clay lived many a day
Ere 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 the churchyard-mould,
He breedeth a mighty bow.
Alder for shoes do wise men choose,
And beech for cups also.
But when you’ve killed, and your bowl is spilled,
And your shoes are clean outworn,
Back ye must speed for all that ye need
To oak, and ash, and thorn!

Elm she hates mankind, and waits
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’ll take no wrong when he lies along
’Neath oak, and ash, and thorn!

Oh, do not tell the priest our plight,
Or he would call it a sin;
But – we’ve been out in the woods all night,
Conjuring summer in!
And we bring good 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’s morn!
England shall bide till judgment tide
With oak, and ash, and thorn!

credits

from Avalon is Risen, released June 10, 2012
Jane Davis: backing vocals
Margaret Davis: backing vocals & recorder
Shira Kammen: fiddle
Kristoph Klover: backing vocals & tenor guitar
Nada Lewis: accordion
Mark Ungar: upright bass
Kevin White: backing vocals
Rob Wilson: bodhran

Lyrics by Rudyard Kipling (1906, Puck of Pook’s Hill), adapted by Leslie Fish
Music © 1978 Leslie Fish

license

about

Leslie Fish Phoenix, Arizona

If there's one name that's practically synonymous with filk (Science Fiction folk music), it's Leslie Fish. Leslie has written literally hundreds of songs covering almost every subject, from the space program ("Hope Eyrie"), to Star Trek ("Banned From Argo") to urban life, history, and space fantasy ("Carmen Miranda's Ghost"). ... more

contact / help

Contact Leslie Fish

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this track or account

If you like Leslie Fish, you may also like:

We Are Who We Are
by Vixy & Tony

supported by 17 fans who also own “Oak, Ash & Thorn”

Vic Tyler has passed. But Dawsons Christian will haunt filk for all time. An anthem of an era. RIP Vic. GarrettStrife
go to album
Cures What Ails Ya
by The Longest Johns

supported by 12 fans who also own “Oak, Ash & Thorn”

Okay it is too hard to choose one favorite track but Oak & Ash & Thorn is the first song of TLJ I heard and it's just THE song of the year for me. I am READY for adventures. twofeatheredarrow
go to album
Horsetamer
by Julia Ecklar

supported by 12 fans who also own “Oak, Ash & Thorn”
go to album
Fire in the White Stone
by Wolcensmen

Lush, moody folk-derived music sure to appeal to metal fans, the latest from Wolcensmen is awash in gorgeous keys & mournful melodies. Bandcamp New & Notable May 2, 2020
go to album
Cabana
by Lau Ro

featured on Bandcamp Radio Apr 30, 2024
go to album
Requiem for a Planet
by Beams

The Toronto-based sextet make moody, cinematic sounding music that blends psych-folk and post-rock. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 27, 2024
go to album
Mischief
by S. J. Tucker

supported by 11 fans who also own “Oak, Ash & Thorn”

The Salad of Doom makes me so happy! And I had to have the D&D track. <3 tygeriris16
go to album