Shadow You Have Seen
(Leon Rosselson)

Across the hills, black clouds are sweeping
Carry poison far and wide
And the grass has blackened underfoot
And the rose has withered and died

But the rose is still as red love
And the grass is still as green
And it must have been a shadow in the distance you have seen
Yes it must have been a shadow you have seen

But can't you hear the children weeping?
Can't you hear the mournful sound?
And no birds sing in the twisted trees
In the silent streets around

I can hear the children laughing
In the streets as they play
And you must have caught the dying of an echo far away
Yes it must have been an echo far away

But can't you see the white ash falling?
From the hollow of the skies?
And the blood runs red down the blackened walls
Where a ruined city lies

I can see the red sun shining
In the park on the stream
And you must have felt a shiver from the darkness of a dream
Yes it must have been the darkness of a dream

But the rose is still as red, love
And the grass is still as green
And it must have been a shadow you have seen
But the rose is still as red, love
And the grass is still as green

And it must have been a shadow you have seen
And death shall reap a hellish harvest
Make a desert of this land
And it must have been a shadow you have seen

Copyright Leon Rosselson
recorded by Ian Campbell Folk Group
SOF