Henry's Songbook

Across the hills black clouds are sweeping
Carry poison far and wide
And the grass has blackened underfoot
And the rose has withered and died

But the rose is still as red now and the grass is still as green
And it must have been a shadow in the distance you have seen
Yes it must have been a shadow you have seen

Can't you hear the children weeping
Can't you hear that mournful sound
No birds sing in the twisted trees
And the silent streets are round

I can hear the children laughing in the streets as they play
And you must have caught the dying of an echo far away
Yes it must have been an echo far away

Can't you see the white ash falling
From the hollow of the skies
And the blood runs red from the blackened walls
Where our ruined city lies

I can see the bright sun shining in the park on the stream
And you must have felt a shiver from the darkness of a dream
Yes it must have been the darkness of a dream

And it shall reap a hellish harvest
Make the desert of this land

But the rose is still as red now and the grass is still as green
Yes it must have been a shadow you have seen

(as sung by the Ian Campbell Folk Group)