Bobby Bare: Giving Tree

(Y'all settle down! Everybody be quiet because daddy's gonna sing a quiet song called the Giving Tree)

Once there was a giving tree who loved a little boy
And every day the boy would come to play
Swinging from her branches sleeping in her shade
Laughing all the summer hours away
And so they'd love and oh the tree was happy oh the tree was glad

But soon the boy grew older and one day he came to say
Can you give me some money tree to buy some things I found
I have no money said the tree just apples twigs and leaves
But you can take my apples boy and sell them in the town
And so he did and oh the tree was happy oh the tree was glad

And soon again the boy came back and he said to the tree
I'm now a man and I must have a house that's all my own
I can't give you a house she said the forest is my house
But you may cut my branches off and build yourself a home
And so he did and oh the tree was happy oh the tree was glad

And the time went by and the boy came back with sadness in his eyes
My life has turned so cold he said and I need sunny days
I've nothin' but my trunk she said but you may cut it down
And built yourself a boat and sail away
And so he did and oh the tree was happy oh the tree was glad

And after years the boy came back both of them were old
I really cannot help ye if you ask another gift
I'm nothin' but an old stump now I'm sorry boy she said
I'm sorry but I've nothin' more to give
I don't need very much now just a quiet place to rest
The boy he'd whispered with a weary smile
Well said the tree an old stump still is good for that
Come boy she said sit down sit down and rest awhile
And so he did and oh the tree was happy oh the tree was glad