Poignant and beautiful song. I once got into it with Louie Killen( A friendly discussion)about the meaning of ..gone where the forests of Oak trees once stood, gone to be wasted in battle.. he was adamant that the forests of Oak trees were victims of the industrial revolution.

Not so I think....
The oak trees where more than likely the ones from the New Forest that where used to build the ships from Henry V111 onwards. There's not many left of the originals.
The village of Buckler's Hart in the forest built many ships.

As Aye,

Phil.