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