The Orchard

[Chorus:]
It is a fine thing to plant an orchard
And raise up young trees to bear sweet fruit
It's the leaf and the petal; it's the star in the circle
Bless the branch, bless the blossom, bless the root
Bless the branch, bless the blossom, bless the root

[Verse 1:]
On the train from London, too tired to be reading
I watched the landscape through dirty glass
And there were fruit trees from apple-cores seeding
Flung from the window by travellers decades past

[Chorus:]
It is a fine thing to plant an orchard
And raise up young trees to bear sweet fruit
It's the leaf and the petal; it's the star in the circle
Bless the branch, bless the blossom, bless the root
Bless the branch, bless the blossom, bless the root

[Verse 2:]
And in my garden I've four of my own now
Bess Poole and the General, Burr Knot or Mister Bide
Annie Eliz'beth, talisman from my childhood
They're young but they're growing
And a daily source of pride

Apple, medlar, peach and pear
Fruit to store and fruit to share
Apple, greengage, damson, plum:
Give it time and the fruit will come
Give it time, give it time, give it time and the fruit will come

[Chorus:]
It is a fine thing to plant an orchard
And raise up young trees to bear sweet fruit
It's the leaf and the petal; it's the star in the circle
Bless the branch, bless the blossom, bless the root
Bless the branch, bless the blossom, bless the root

Bless the branch ... bless the blossom ... bless the root