Lyrics Burning Times - Christy Moore

Burning Times

In the cool of the evening, they used to gather
Neath the stars in the meadow circling an old oak tree
At the times appointed… by the seasons…
Of the earth and the phases of the moon
In the center stood a woman
Equal with the others and respected for her worth
One of the many we call the witches
The healers and the teachers of the wisdom of the earth
And the people grew through the knowledge she gave them
Herbs to heal their bodies, spells to make their spirits whole
Can’t ya hear them chanting healing incantations
Calling forth the wise ones, celebrating in dance and song…
… Isis, Astarte, Diana, Hecate, Demeter, Kali… Inanna…
There were those who came to power through domination
And they bonded in the worship of a dead man on a cross
They sought control of the common people
By demanding allegiance to the church of Rome
And the Pope declared an inquisition
It was war against the women, whose powers they feared
In this holocaust against The Nature People
Nine million European women died
And the tale is told of those who by the hundreds
Holding together, chose their death in the sea
While chanting the praises of the Mother Goddess
A refusal of betrayal, women were dying to be free
… Isis, Astarte, Diana, Hecate, Demeter, Kali… Inanna…
Now the earth is a witch and the men still burn her
Stripping her down with mining and the poisons of their wars
Still to us the earth is a healer, a teacher, a mother
A weaver of a web of light that keeps us all alive
She gives us the vision to see through the chaos
She gives us the courage, it is our will to survive