The Worm The Tree Lyrics - Procol Harum

Into a great tree a small worm did go 

It wormed it's way inwards and soon it did grow 

The tree was unhappy but what could it do? 

It stood there in silence: the worm grew and grew 

The tree was unhappy but what could it say 

The worm kept on growing the tree sank away 

The worm was so greedy it ate more each day 

And each day it ate more the tree shrank away 

The worm was so loathsome it felt no disgrace 

The birds had been silenced the sun shunned that place 

And all of the forest grew fearful to see 

What terrible fate lay in store for the tree 

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The worm grew so monstrous it's greed knew no bounds 

The smell was so awful if poisoned the ground 

And all of the creatures that lived in the wood 

Were sickened and starving the worm spoiled their food 

The birds would not sing and the sun could not shine 

The forest lay dirty and blackened with grime 

Now down in the forest a young man went riding 

He passed by the great tree and saw it was dying 

The leaves and the bark were all rotten and rife 

The tree had been poisoned and drained for it's life 

He stripped of a piece of the bark of the tree 

And straight'way he know what the right cure should be 

The man built a fire and chopped down the tree 

The worm started screaming it could not break free 

It trashed and it lashed but it could net break loose 

Trapped in that tree like a thief in a noose 

The worm burst asunder a vile smelling crust 

He hacked it to pieces and burnt it to dust 

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The forest seemed clearer and peacful at last 

Like after a storm when the rainclouds have passed 

And although the great tree was fallen and dead 

They knew from the ashes a new life would spread 

Yes although the great tree had fallen and died 

They knew from the ashes a new one would thrive 

Now years may have passed since the tale I have told 

Yet the truth of this story does still seem to hold 

Although from a great tree a small worm may grow 

That eats it with poison and tortures it's soul 

The worm can be killed yet the tree be not dead 

For from the roots of the elder a new life will spread