The Ivy and the Holly - Kate Rusby

Oh, the Ivy and the Holly.

You’d know if you have seen them.

Of all the

Trees that grow in the wood, there’s no good points between them

Oh, the Ivy has a berry, as black as any sin.

It’s not much use in jams

Or pies and horrible in gin

Oh, the Ivy and the Holly.

You’d know if you have seen them.

Of all the

Trees that grow in the wood, there’s no good points between them

Oh, the Holly has a stalk, as green as any veg.

If you chop it up in salad

It will set your teeth on edge

Oh, the Ivy and the Holly.

You’d know if you have seen them.

Of all the

Trees that grow in the wood, there’s no good points between them

Oh, the Ivy has a poison that makes you itch like hell.

If you boil it up

In stews it will make you sick as well

Oh, the Ivy and the Holly.

You’d know if you have seen them.

Of all the

Trees that grow in the wood, there’s no good points between them

Oh, the Holly has a root, beneath the earth it rots, and if you suck it

Slowly it will bring you out in spots

Oh, the Ivy and the Holly.

You’d know if you have seen them.

Of all the

Trees that grow in the wood, there’s no good points between them

Oh, the Ivy has a leaf, sometimes it’s variegated.

Sometimes it not that

Goes to show how things get complicated

Oh, the Ivy and the Holly.

You’d know if you have seen them.

Of all the

Trees that grow in the wood, there’s no good points between them

Oh, the Holly has a flower.

It’s hardly worth a mention;

and I don’t

See why these two trees should get all this attention

Oh, the Ivy and the Holly.

You’d know if you have seen them.

Of all the

Trees that grow in the wood, there’s no good points between them

Oh, the Ivy and the Holly, when they are both full grown.

The Ivy needs the

Holly for it can’t stand up alone.

The Ivy needs the Holly for it can’t

Stand up alone