One Tree Lyrics

Fer as far as eyes can see

One big field of grass and weeds

A couple cows beyond horizon

Could walk a line for hours without stopping

Do my chores six days a week

My old house don't take much upkeep

That seventh day I clear my heart

And take a walk the terrain parts

Cause like I said ain't much to see

Just dirt and grass and wiry weeds

But if I walk from ten till three

I'll come upon one single tree

My daddy said great grampa dug

The little hole the seed was plugged

A little leaf done sprouted forth

A hundred years or maybe more

That tree has seen my families lives

It's stood while we lived and stood while we died

And at its roots we're buried there

And years I too will lay down there

But for now I just go to sit and

Think about what might have been

And everything that came before

And everything they gave so I could

Be so fortunate to be

The steward of this land beneath me

And put my hand upon this tree

That years of howling winds have beat and

Twist and snarled in cursed form

And all the stronger every curve

That push back every tearing breeze

They try to carve and arch and weave

But this old tree that stands alone

No other thing for miles round

Is anchored by my father's bones

And fed upon my sweat and blood

And when I'm home and sun it falls

I shut my eyes and float the halls

Of that old house my ancestors

They stood here on this ancient land