Green grow the rushes-o

There are different versions of these song lyrics around the internet, but this is the version I remember from my childhood. The obscure words and unexplained symbolism always seemed mysterious and dream-like to me.

I'll sing you one song
Green grow the rushes-o
What is your one song?
One is one and all alone and ever more shall be so

I'll sing you two songs
Green grow the rushes-o
What are your two songs?
Two, two, the lily-white boys
Dress them all in corduroys
One is one and all alone and ever more shall be so

I'll sing you three songs
Green grow the rushes-o
What are your three songs?
Three, three the rivals
Two, two, the lily-white boys
Dress them all in corduroys
One is one and all alone and ever more shall be so

I'll sing you four songs
Green grow the rushes-0
What are your four songs?
Four for the gospel makers
Three, three the rivals
Two, two, the lily-white boys
Dress them all in corduroys
One is one and all alone and ever more shall be so

I'll sing you five songs
Green grow the rushes-o
What are your five songs?
Five for the symbols at your door
Four for the gospel makers
Three, three the rivals
Two, two, the lily-white boys
Dress them all in corduroys
One is one and all alone and ever more shall be so

I'll sing you six songs
Green grow the rushes-o
What are your six songs?
Six for the six proud walkers
Five for the symbols at your door
Four for the gospel makers
Three, three the rivals
Two, two, the lily-white boys
Dress them all in corduroys
One is one and all alone and ever more shall be so

I'll sing you seven songs
Green grow the rushes-o
What are your seven songs?
Seven for the seven stars in the sky
Six for the six proud walkers
Five for the symbols at your door
Four for the gospel makers
Three, three the rivals
Two, two, the lily-white boys
Dress them all in corduroys
One is one and all alone and ever more shall be so

I'll sing you eight songs
Green grow the rushes-o
What are your eight songs?
Eight for the April rainers
Seven for the seven stars in the sky
Six for the six proud walkers
Five for the symbols at your door
Four for the gospel makers
Three, three the rivals
Two, two, the lily-white boys
Dress them all in corduroys
One is one and all alone and ever more shall be so

I'll sing you nine songs
Green grow the rushes-o
What are your nine songs?
Nine for the nine bright shiners
Eight for the April rainers
Seven for the seven stars in the sky
Six for the six proud walkers
Five for the symbols at your door
Four for the gospel makers
Three, three the rivals
Two, two, the lily-white boys
Dress them all in corduroys
One is one and all alone and ever more shall be so

I'll sing you ten songs
Green grow the rushes-o
What are your ten songs?
Ten for the ten commandments
Nine for the nine bright shiners
Eight for the April rainers
Seven for the seven stars in the sky
Six for the six proud walkers
Five for the symbols at your door
Four for the gospel makers
Three, three the rivals
Two, two, the lily-white boys
Dress them all in corduroys
One is one and all alone and ever more shall be so

I'll sing you eleven songs
Green grow the rushes-o
What are your eleven songs?
Eleven for the eleven who went to heaven
Ten for the ten commandments
Nine for the nine bright shiners
Eight for the April rainers
Seven for the seven stars in the sky
Six for the six proud walkers
Five for the symbols at your door
Four for the gospel makers
Three, three the rivals
Two, two, the lily-white boys
Dress them all in corduroys
One is one and all alone and ever more shall be so

I'll sing you twelve songs
Green grow the rushes-o
What are your twelve songs?
Twelve for the twelve disciples
Eleven for the eleven who went to heaven
Ten for the ten commandments
Nine for the nine bright shiners
Eight for the April rainers
Seven for the seven stars in the sky
Six for the six proud walkers
Five for the symbols at your door
Four for the gospel makers
Three, three the rivals
Two, two, the lily-white boys
Dress them all in corduroys
One is one and all alone and ever more shall be so

Witch human beings turn to animals

from Ghana
published in Fortean Times no. 252, August 2009

Cypriot love potion

NICOSIA (Reuters) - Unhappy lovers in Cyprus have been taking so much stone from the tomb of Saint Agapitikos to use in love potions that soon there won't be anything left.

Dust from the grave in the courtyard of the church in the village of Arodes in Paphos district has been used for centuries by the lovelorn, who are supposed to slip it into the drink of their objet d'amour.

But in recent years so many have been filching shards of stone that a quarter of the tomb has disappeared.

Mayor of Arodes Matthaios Stefanou is unclear whether Cypriots' love lives are becoming more troubled.

"A lot of people have said it works," he said. "In the last few years I don't know what's come over people, but they are flocking to the tomb for the stuff.

"Just the other day locals saw some people visiting the tomb, and they were there for a very long time, in the end they walked off with a huge chunk of stone, maybe even half a kilo of it!"

The island's antiquities department has been called in to help. "The only thing we can do is examine the damage and try to prevent any further damage," said Maria Hadjicosti, the acting director. Saint Agapitikos -- whose name means "lover" -- is believed to have served in the German army of the Crusaders before settling as a hermit in the area.

"You're very welcome to come and see the tomb, but please don't go taking any of it with you now," Stefanou said.

Reuters India, 8th August 2009

Herm

Vårberg, Stockholm, Sunday 26th July 2009

Antlers

Ventnor, Isle of Wight
10th August 2005

Woman turn's to cat and attack son

from Ghana
published in Fortean Times no.251, July 2009

(Click on the image to enlarge it and read the expository text)

Hermetic birds

Graffito, Manor Park, London E12
May 2006