Lyrics Bobby Bare – The 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

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 build 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