The Woods' Man Lyrics

He was mostly made of sticks and leaves

And other forest features

We found him, rootless

A crow exploring his innards

We took him home, propped him up

In the warm leather armchair

And rearranged his crown

Of yellow and brown

He wasn't much of a talker

So we just listened to his rustling

Though a strange kind of wisdom

Seemed to emanate out

From his acorn eyes and almond brow

But when he was angry

His nostrils flared up

Like pinecones on fire

We loved him for his truth

Loved his down-to-earth ways

And how we breathed in

What he breathed out

A slow existence, symbiotic and silent

Where he breathed in

What we breathed out

We tried to dress him in silks and velvet

But he preferred to go au naturel

Which meant that any company invited round

Had to be warned just in case

Bare bark and depetaled flowers

Embarrassed our city friends

More used to plastic tulips

And paintings of trees

The second to worst day was when the dog got out

And wrestled him to the ground

Tore at his timber heart

And chewed on log limbs

We soothed the bite marks with walnuts

Rubbing the gashes until level

And only a slightly lighter shade

Than his autumn-tinged skin

We loved him for his truth

Loved his down-to-earth ways

And how we breathed in

What he breathed out

A slow existence

Symbiotic and silent

Where he breathed in

What we breathed out

And then lightning struck

Who knows if cigarette or candle

Or wall plug – but with backs turned

He was gone

Black flakes stained the couch

While embers cried then cooled

We put him on the compost heap

Though our youngest kept a twig

A shrivelled sprout

Pointing downwards in a glass jar

We loved him for his truth

Loved his down-to-earth ways

And how we breathed in

What he breathed out

A slow existence

Symbiotic and silent

Where he breathed in

What we breathed out

We loved him for his truth

Loved his down-to-earth ways

And how we breathed in

What he breathed out

A slow existence

Symbiotic and silent

Where he breathed in

What we breathed out