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The Easter Tree

from Bright Shadows by Jemima Thewes

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about

When I first heard this I thought it was an old, lost and forgotten traditional song. After we recorded it I checked to make sure there were no rights for it and discovered it was actually written by a genius songwriter and master craftsman dry stone waller called Dave Goulder! I immediately looked him up, telephoned him and had a chat, quite star-struck. He's an absolute legend and exceedingly humble for writing such timeless and beautiful songs.

lyrics

Rain falls upon the Easter Tree, the squirrel shakes his head
And shivers in his red and sodden fur
The wind and water flatten out his ears and force his streaming eyes to close

The smell of death is heavy in his nose

The sun dries out the Easter Tree, the rabbit looks around
Sees a shadow on the ground and runs for home
A songbird finds a strange and novel perch to shout his challenge to the day

The hair beneath his feet is turning grey

Yes a man hangs from the Easter Tree, his death bed is a rope
Or strong nails have killed his hopes of climbing down
His jaws are locked in agony, or open for the flies to come and go

His eyes are in the belly of the crow

A dog sits by the Easter Tree, beneath the naked heels
His master or his meal will surely fall
When the rope is broken by the wind, or the rusty nails release their withered load

Then the dog, well fed, continues down the road

Bones lie beneath the Easter Tree, the skulls now full of sand
Could never understand the reason why
The thread of life was broken by a hand that never cared to know their names

They played and lost in someone else’s game

The leaves upon the Easter Tree are red with human blood
Since justice chose the wood to make a sword
For when a man was hanged at Tyburn Tree, or crucified along the road to Rome

His blood and tears have stained the face of stone

credits

from Bright Shadows, released April 9, 2015
written by Dave Goulder
Arranged by Tim Lane and Jemima Thewes

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Jemima Thewes Scotland, UK

Cloud-hopping tales are told by clear, honest vocals and adorned with playful instrumentation. Jemima and her band charm you along a cathartic journey of haunting songs built of intriguing lyrics and melodies that creep up and catch you unawares. The unusual combination of strings and a rare wooden box called a tongue drum adds to the inventive and enticing new sound they create. ... more

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