WYCH ELM 
N Durakis

I told him 
'No don't cut the Wych elm down
She's been standing in the forest 
at the gateway to our town
Since the men in black 
with their wooden crosses came'

Bella was a woman 
who lived in our village
Healing the sick 
and tending her land

Every child born 
owed its life to our Bella
My first breath was drawn 
by the touch of her hand

Don't put your axe against her 
I swear that she will bleed
Woodsman she's a woman 
leave her in peace'

Came there a young man 
down to our village
Clothes black as night-time 
with eyes bright and cold

The folk of the village 
he loved as a priest loves
But Bella he loved 
as a young man brave and bold

I cannot be yours 
I belong to the Earth sir
You cannot be mine 
you are sworn to the sky

Take heed of your vows priest 
the Gods cannot be cheated
Not even by a heart 
that is deceived by the eye

Your words gentle Bella 
they mark me for callow
And I swear by the Christ now 
so mark my words well

If you will not love me 
you'll go to none other
As a witch you will burn 
I consign thee to Hell

She's guarded by God 
and by powers unknown
If you value your life/soul
woodsman leave her alone

On the eve of All Hallows 
as Bella was dancing
In the light of her beacon, 
naked and free

Out from the darkness 
a priest came a-walking
Bella tonight 
you will lie here with me

The ground underneath them 
it growled and trembled
The couple were shaken 
and Bella broke free

And when the quake was over 
the clearing was empty
The priest stood alone 
'twixt a fire and a tree

Gone is the woodsman 
gone from this village
Here in the forest 
I now walk alone

In the clearing the Wych elm 
still stands by the river
In the grass lies an axe 
and a pillar of stone