The Greenman is as others here have pointed out a pagan symbol of nature's fertile/masculine side. Its Andy's song of course, so it is written from the atheist pov and I don't know what Mayordperry is talking about - A cahnge of heart would imply Andy was questioning, when in fact this song, as does 'Dear God', demonstrates someone totally opposed to religion. Check the line; "see the greenman blow his kiss from the church wall". I love this part because he's saying, 'go one build your churches on top of what we should be worshiping: nature, but nature itself will in turn grow on your churches, and be there much much longer than any of those buildings.'
The Greenman in folklore was a character that turned up in stories as a symbol of hope for good crops and fertile land, which pagans obviously held in highest regard. This song is a reminder of that tradition of worship, long since replaced with the religion (spits) and the father and lover references are beautiful descriptions of our natural world as essential to our birth, survival, learning and happiness, whereas religion only seems to create hatred and confusion.
The Greenman is as others here have pointed out a pagan symbol of nature's fertile/masculine side. Its Andy's song of course, so it is written from the atheist pov and I don't know what Mayordperry is talking about - A cahnge of heart would imply Andy was questioning, when in fact this song, as does 'Dear God', demonstrates someone totally opposed to religion. Check the line; "see the greenman blow his kiss from the church wall". I love this part because he's saying, 'go one build your churches on top of what we should be worshiping: nature, but nature itself will in turn grow on your churches, and be there much much longer than any of those buildings.'
The Greenman in folklore was a character that turned up in stories as a symbol of hope for good crops and fertile land, which pagans obviously held in highest regard. This song is a reminder of that tradition of worship, long since replaced with the religion (spits) and the father and lover references are beautiful descriptions of our natural world as essential to our birth, survival, learning and happiness, whereas religion only seems to create hatred and confusion.
Totally magnificent song.