The Bop Shop 3.30.24 -Mike Heron-

mike heron, “flowers of the forest”

from: smiling men with bad reputations, 1971

“Sweet love the words that made you cry
They came from one that don’t have love like we do
Even if you’d give him all your sweet love
Probably turn his back and walk away,
Lookin’ for a trick and he wouldn’t understand
That you just want to stretch out your hand
You know he’s closed himself to all the grief and pain that he can’t stand
And he’s bound his heart with an iron band
Come dry your tears like the sun dries the rain

Deep is the river running through my life
Full shines the sun upon it
The girl I love swims there all day long
You know she is bright as the flowers of the forest

The tender tears in your smiling eyes
They meld me right to my soul
We have to part now for a while
But our lives will cross for ever
You’ll bless every place you pass through
So much good in all you do.
I can’t understand how anyone could hurt you so bad
So sad to see them hide from what they are
Me I know you like I know the song in my soul
It’s gonna be all right, it’s gonna be all right

Deep is the river running through my life
Full shines the sun upon it
And the girl I love swims there all day long
You know she is bright as the flowers of the forest
You know she is bright as the flowers of the forest

Swim on, girl
Let the sun shine down on you
Swim on, girl
Swim on, girl
”

— Mike Heron

Producer Joe Boyd was able to pull together an incredible list of musicians to participate in the first solo album for the Incredible String Band’s Mike Heron. On Flowers of the Forest, Richard Thompson delivers some of his best work, Dave Mattacks provides outstanding percussion, and the ISB’s Rose Simpson is on bass and while Steve Winwood is listed on organ, I find it hard to detect. Outstanding playing is provided by the Velvet Underground’s John Cale, but not on this tune.

-Alan West-