The Worm and the Tree, Pt. 1: Introduction / Menace / Occupation - Procol Harum

Into a great tree, a small worm did go

It wormed its way inwards, and soon it did grow

The tree was unhappy, but what could it do?

It stood there in silence: the worm grew and grew

The tree was unhappy, but what could it say

The worm kept on growing, the tree shrank away

The worm was so greedy, it ate more each day

And each day it ate more, the tree shrank away

The worm was so loathsome, it felt no disgrace

The birds had been silenced, the sun shunned that place

And all of the forest grew fearful to see

What terrible fate lay in store for the tree

The worm grew so monstrous, its greed knew no bounds

The smell was so awful, if poisoned the ground

And all of the creatures that lived in the wood

Were sickened and starving: the worm spoiled their food

The birds could not sing, and the sun could not shine

The forest lay dirty and blackened with grime