> Steeleye Span > Songs > I See His Blood upon the Rose

I See His Blood upon the Rose

[words Joseph Plunkett, music Gay Woods, arr. Tim Harries and Gay Woods]

This track with Gay Woods, vocals; Peter Knight, acoustic violins & ‘Octave’ electric violin solo; Tim Harries, bass & keyboards; Bob Johnson, guitar; Dave Mattacks, drums; was released on the CD Bedlam Born. Gay Woods comments:

For my brother Austin Corcoran, painter, poet, alchimist
Also in memory of Joseph Plunkett (1887-1916), poet, executed in the “1916 Rising”.

Lyrics

Gay Woods sings I See His Blood upon the Rose

I see his blood upon the rose
And in the stars the glory of his eyes.
His body gleams amid eternals shows,
His tears fall from the sky.

All pathways by his feet are worn.
His strong heart stirs the sea.
His crown of thorns is twined in our sorrow.
His cross is on every tree.

I see his face in every flower;
The thunder and the singing of the birds -
Are his voice—and his power.
Rocks are his written words.

(repeat last and first verse)