Lyrics The Ivy and the Holly - Kate Rusby

The Ivy and the Holly

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