Chil' o' th' Forest By Jackie Morgan

Thee walks in me footsteps, chil' o' th' Forest,

Though thee be no' aware I be there.

Thee stands wer' I once stood, chil' o' th' forest,

Wi 'nither a doubt nor a care.

Thee plays wer' I once played, chil' o' th' forest,

Thy 'ood it be green now no' black,

Trees cover the ol' mine, chil' o' th' forest,

Wer' I carried slag o' me back.

Thee sleeps wer' I once worked, chil' o' th' forest,

Taks rest, wer' I once toiled fur pay,

Thee breathes i' th' fresh air, chil' o' th' forest,

Wer' I once saw no light o' day.

Thee plays wi' thy football, chil' o' th' forest,

Wer' I once 'ad stones as me ball,

Thee paddles i' streambeds, chil' o' th' forest,

Wer' I garnered water fur all.

Tak' time t' grow older, chil' o' th' forest,

Tak' all o' th' time tha' thee can'

Grow strong i' th' sunlight, chil' o' th' forest,

Do na' rush t' becum a man.

Fur here on th' hillside, chil' o' th' forest,

Beneath thic sma' grassy mund,

'Tis wer' I be buried, chil' o' th' forest,

Snug, i' th' rain watered grund.

Enjoy all thy freedom, chil' o' th' forest,

Breathe deeply th' air I once breathed,

Enjoy thy swee' boyhood, chil' o' th' forest,

'Tis part o' life's tapestry weaved.

An' as thee grows older, chil' o' th' forest,

An live all th' years I could na',

Live fur too, chil' o' th'forest,

A' eight years I wuz placed i' thic spot.

Thee walks in me footsteps, chil' o' th' forest,

An' I pray thy walk's longer than mine,

Tread lightly wer' I rest, chil' o' th' forest,

On thee may th' sun always shine.