The Life And Death Of An Oak Tree

G C G C G C G N.C. G C G C G I am a seedling, whatever you do, D Em D G C G wherever you plant me, do it in the shade G C G C G Keep me safe under your careful gaze, D Em D G C G let every naïve leaf that stems be a memory we've made A C G C G C G C G Every autumn night the memories start to fade N.C. G C G C G I am a sapling, water my roots, D Em D G C G take pictures of me, you can give me a name G C G C G Keep a journal, write in it every day, D Em say that I look like a stubborn tree, D G C G staking my claim A C G C G C G C G If the children come to crush me, send them away N.C. G C G C G I am an oak tree, strong and tall, D Em D G C G providing you shelter, giving you hope G C G C G If anyone ever hangs themselves from me, D Em D G C G Would you cut them down, but leave the rope A C G C G C G C G May it represent that I stood proud while others choked N.C. G C G C G Ohhhh, I am a bad tree, you cut me down, D Em D G C G take your ax to me, curse the day I was born G C G C G Stand on my trunk, victorious and happy, D Em D G C G while the tree-huggers sit on the sidelines and mourn A C G C G C G C G Tell them all that I'll be prettier once my bark is shorn N.C. G C G C G I am kindling, stripped of my strength, D Em D G C G used to start the fires that keep you warm G C G C G I am rotten, sad, and damp D Em D G C G from the day that you left me in a pile in the midst of a storm A C G C G C G C G Read your journal, look at your pictures, and let the tears form