The Giving Tree

I once had a friend who meant everything to me

And our friendship was quite special, see that friend was a tree

When I swung from his branches he held me so tightly

Up in my sleeping bag, kept me company nightly

He was heaven sent, benevolent, the best friend ever

Gave me all I needed and he made my world better

Kept the darkness at bay, like I could always stay

6 years old forever, I was happy every day

I got branches you can climb, pretty colored leaves

Granny Apples and some vines

See that's my friend the sun but I don't have to let it shine

You can quietly play away from all the bright light and the shade

I'm the bigger brother that you never had

You can snap my branches off or punch and kick me if you're ever mad

Your Dad just does not provide the strength that I do

Now lean against me boy scribble me a haiku

Then adolescence hit like giant brick

That was it love sick I would sit

In her arms and I'd stick

A dagger in the heart of my loyal friend the tree

Carved initials in his bark Mary Jane next to me

Because things change right? I guess that's just life

Like Puff the Magic Dragon, Jackie Paper took a hike

Stop crying - look at me - I'm growing up

But I'm still showing up and I'm still showing love!

Here boy, why don't you take a couple of these Granny Smiths

Go down to the market, follow this manuscript

Sell a couple of them, tell the people that they're grown organically

Use the money, buy your girl the necklace of her fantasies

If they want more I got oranges, cherries,

cashews, cupcakes, chocolate strawberries

You got to understand that I'm not just a normal tree

I'm here to fulfill all your needs... plant a seed.

I'm your Giving Tree.

Then I became a man, too busy to climb trees

Though I miss the tire swing, I'm climbing higher see

made millions I've done it, corner office view

I'm a very busy man don't have time to talk to you

Some nights I reminisce; I sit up feeling sick

So I pop another pill and it seems to do the trick

Surviving on my own for the last 40 years,

I'll always love you tree but now I'm going, I'm growing

This was not about you spending time in the forest

This has been about me providing resources, for you

Cause that's my style, smile, I think you find happiness in a child

Or two, here, take a branch that's big

Make yourself a nice digs, a good place to live

Then create a couple kids, trust me, you're not abandoning me

'Cause I will always be your family tree

Sitting by myself, feeling so lonely

My friends are all dying and nobody seems to know me

My trophy wife ran off and my kids never call

I need a way to leave and get away from it all

Old and sad all the good times I had

Have faded through the hourglass my memories are sand

I was the king of the forest and you were my throne

But before I pass away there's some world's I've never known

Here take the rest of me, take what's left

Maybe you should sail over waters and the depths of the world,

Forget about your ungrateful kids and your girl

Don't you want to see the blue sea?

You, me, your friend, the wooden raft,

Hopefully you learn how to smile and even look and laugh

Please boy, take what you want, but maybe

You should leave yourself a stump, at least leave a stump.

Now I'm back, and I can barely walk

And I can barely talk, and I've sold all my stock

So may I sit for a minute? I've got nothing left

My life has been a journey, but now it's time to rest

Even though I'm very old too please sit

I can't tell you where the branches or the leaves went

But I can tell you that it's time to sit, take a rest

And process every single ounce of your stress

Remember childhood? When it was you and me?

Well now I'm finally home, and now I'm finally free

You gave me everything, you were always there

I close my eyes and drift away and I don't feel scared

Remember childhood, when it was me and you?

I'm the one that gave you everything, of course you do

My natural calling was to always be here

Close your eyes and die with me, thank you for the years.