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The Gallows Tree

from Of Roots and Flesh by Northern Oak

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    - The physical CD of the album, printed by Sound Performance Studios and beautifully packaged in a six-panel digipack case with stunning, panoramic artwork from Augustinas Našlėnas and a 16-page booklet containing lyrics and more artwork.

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about

The gallows trees (more commonly known as dule trees) were trees in England that were used as makeshift gibbets for the public hanging and display of criminals. They were usually found in busy places (like crossroads, or other prominent places) so that the bodies hung from the tree could be seen by passers-by as a signal that justice had been done and as a warning to others. I came across the idea while idly browsing Wikipedia, and was immediately struck by how incredibly grim and black metal it sounded- I'd been trying to write a fast, black-metal sounding song at the time so the subject matter seemed to fit perfectly. The refrain ("come follow/whither shall I follow thee") is believed to be a medieval song which was sung in the round, so we decided to lift those lyrics for the song and try to emulate the round by blending low death growls and higher black metal screams.
~Chris

lyrics

Come follow, whither shall I follow thee?
Come follow, to the gallows tree.

Terror must have gripped your heart
When he promised you a lesson,
Brought you where crows shriek and start,
To the withered bough that bears me.

Come follow, whither shall I follow thee?
Come follow, to the gallows tree.

He said, 'If you steal or murder,
With villains you'll come to be.
With no one to hold your legs down.
No true love to set you free.'

So the law claimed my end
But what will leave you glassy eyed?
Slain at a war in the King's name?
Branded heretic by the Church?
Worked to your death by a lord?
You learn no justice as you stare,
Only a fear of whose noose will snare.

Come follow, whither shall I follow thee?
Come follow, to the gallows tree.

credits

from Of Roots and Flesh, released October 4, 2014
Music & lyrics: Northern Oak

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Northern Oak Sheffield, UK

Founded in early 2006 during a wintry excursion to the Peak District, Northern Oak have been spreading their unique brand of flute-heavy progressive folk metal across Sheffield and the rest of the UK ever since.

Our music sounds like Jethro Tull played by extreme metal fans with an appreciation for everything from Pink Floyd to Emperor.
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