The Sherwood Oak

Each spring we look for signs of life On ancient oak and lint A leaf heralds another year For the tree of kings But now the year has turned about And no leaf can we see And ancient life, it is no more What woe and misery The oak is dead, the oak is dead The great oak of the wood What can it mean for England? I fear it's nothing good The leaves that sheltered Robin's men Sapling saw William come The turning of a thousand years You witnessed every one The oak is dead, the oak is dead The great oak of the wood What can it mean for England? I fear it's nothing good You may have lived a thousand years more If not for human greed Harken the air, poison the streams Progress a horrid creed The oak is dead, the oak is dead The great oak of the wood What can it mean for England? I fear it's nothing good They called you by some major's name But that's a shame to do King of the wood should be your fame May your children grow for you The oak is dead, the oak is dead The great oak of the wood What can it mean for England? I fear it's nothing good