Henry's Songbook

I'll sing you my October song, there is no song before it
The words and tune are not my own, my joy and sorrow bore it
Beside the sea, the brambly briar in the still of evening
Birds fly out from behind the sun, and with them I'll be leaving

The fallen leaves that jewel the ground, they know the art of dying
And leave with joy their glad gold hearts in scarlet shadows lying
When hunger calls my weary footsteps home, the morning follows after
I swim the seas within my mind, the pine-trees laugh green laughter

I used to search for happiness, and I used to follow pleasure
But I found a door behind my mind, and that's the greatest treasure
For rulers like to lay down laws, and rebels like to break them
And the poor priests like to walk in chains and God likes to forsake them

I met a man whose name was Time, he said, I must be going
But just how long ago that was I have no way of knowing
Sometimes I could murder time, when my heart is aching
But mostly I just like to stroll along the path that he is taking

(as sung by The Corries)

[1972:] [...] eine poetische Aneinanderreihung von Bildern und Einfällen (Notes Eddie & Finbar Furey, 'Four Green Fields')