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The Seven Virgins

from Songs by Ed, Will and Ginger

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about

Bert Lloyd posits that the ‘leaves of life’ were derived from imagery in the Arundel Psalter. Seven Virgins, as seven virtues, stand under the tree of life.

It's a lovely combination of pre-Christian vegetable holiness, with monastic glorification.

This song we especially love to sing. It is a tale of re-birth, the non-finality of death, and the humanity of God. We like the uncertain symbolism of the Fennel and the Rose, strong and gentle, in this Easter Passion carol.

An old saying of Cymru states that "he who sees Fennel and picks it not, he is no man but a devil."

This song is good sung in churches, particularly those dedicated to Mary. Most churches are freely open to wanderers, for prayer, reflection and rest. Churches are acoustically wonderful spaces, open temples, and the achievement of their construction, at least, deserves a good song sung.

This was collected from a lady called May Bradley, in Woebly, 1966.

lyrics

All under the leaves and the leaves of life
I met with virgins seven,
and one of them was Mary mild,
Our Lord’s best mother in heaven.

O what are you seeking you seven pretty maids,
All under the leaves of life,
We are seeking for no leaves, Thomas,
But for a friend of thine.

Go down, go down, into yonder town,
And sit in the gallery,
O and there you’ll see sweet Jesus Christ,
All nailed to an Elder tree.

So down they went into yonder town,
As fast as foot could fall,
O and many a bitter and a grevous tear,
From them virgins eyes did fall.

O peace, mother, o peace, mother,
Your weeping does me grieve,
For I must suffer this, he says,
For Adam and for Eve.

O how can I my weeping cease,
my sorrows under gall,
When I must watch my own son die,
And sons I have no more.

He’s laid his head on his right shoulder,
And death has struck him nigh,
The Holy Ghost be with your soul,
Sweet mother, now I die.

O, the Rose, the gentle Rose,
The Fennel it grows so strong,
Amen, sweet lord, your charity,
Is the ending of my song.

credits

from Songs, released January 1, 2010

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A Walk Around Britain UK

Wayfaring songs from journeys on foot around Britain.

With Ed, Will & Ginger. And others.

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