“Under The Greenwood Tree” is a poem taken from William Shakespeare’s romantic comedy “As You like It”. In the play it’s a song sung by the character Amiens and urges the listener to move away from the busy life in court and settle for a simple and peaceful life in the woods. There they shall live from what nature has to offer, free from ambition and civilization. Read a longer analysis of the poem at InterestingLiterature.
You might recognize the title “Under The Greenwood Tree” since it’s also a famous novel published in 1872 by the English author Thomas Hardy. Read more about Hardy’s novel on Wikipedia.
All instruments in this song, except the vocals and the ukulele, are recorded in a forest near where I live. For the percussion I recorded stones, sticks and branches and the kick drum is a piece of bark that I banged against a tree. I think the sounds turned out really nice and fit with the pastoral theme of the song. With all the stress and distractions in the modern world isn’t there a part in all of us that long for the kind of simple life that this poem describes?
As You Like It
“As You like It” is a famous romantic comedy play by William Shakespeare. In the play a Duke has been exiled from the French court by his younger brother Frederick. The Duke’s daughter Rosalind is first allowed to stay at court but is later banished by her uncle.
Rosalind flees to The Forest of Arden together with her cousin Celia and the court fool Touchstone. In the forest she disguises herself as a young man and Celia pretends to be a poor girl. “As You like It” follows the romance between Rosalind and a young gentleman called Orlando and other intrigues.
Under The Greenwood Tree
By William Shakespeare
Under the greenwood tree
Who loves to lie with me,
And turn his merry note
Unto the sweet bird’s throat,
Come hither, come hither, come hither
Here shall he see
No enemy
But winter and rough weather.
Who doth ambition shun
And loves to live i’ the sun,
Seeking the food he eats,
And pleased with what he gets,
Come hither, come hither, come hither
Here shall he see
No enemy
But winter and rough weather.
