LEAVES OF LIFE, THE

Trad. arr. Ray Cooper / Dilwyn Davies / John Jones / Alan Prosser / June Tabor / Ian Telfer
Topic Records Ltd 2011

First released on:  Ragged Kingdom, 2011

    
all under the leaves and the leaves of life 
I met with virgins seven
and one of them was Mary mild
our Lord's best mother in heaven.

o what are you seeking, you seven pretty maids
all under the leaves of life?
we are seeking for no leaves Thomas
but for a friend of thine

go down go down into yonder town
and sit in the gallery
and there you'll see sweet Jesus Christ
nailed to a big yew tree

so down they went into yonder town 
as fast as foot could fall
and many a bitter and a grievous tear
from them virgins' eyes did fall

o peace mother, o peace mother
your weeping does me grieve
I will suffer this he said
for Adam and for Eve

how can I my weeping leave
my sorrows undergo
when I see my own true son to die?
and sons I have no more

he laid his head on his right shoulder
death has struck him nigh
the Holy Ghost be with your soul
sweet mother now I die

o the rose the gentle rose
the fennel it grows so strong
amen dear Lord your charity
is the ending of my song

Collected by Ralph Vaughan Williams and E M Leather from Mrs Whatton and Mrs Loveridge at the Homme, Dilwyn, Herefordshire