The old oak tree

Verse 1

There’s a big old tree by the road

With a black mark on one limb

Mom said lightning hit it once

But it stayed just like this

The bark feels different right there

Rough and warm and dry

I touch it quick and pull away

Then look up at the sky

Chorus

Old oak tree, what have you seen

Standing here so long

All the days before today

All the quiet gone

Old oak tree, I sit real still

Right where you can see

I watch the world go past you

And you watch me

Verse 2

There’s an old, old nail that sticks out

Not very far at all

But there’s a big round bump around it

Like it’s been there forever long

I try to turn it with my finger

But it won’t move a bit

The tree just grew all around it

And never let go of it

Chorus

Old oak tree, what have you seen

Since that nail was new

Who put it there and walked away

And what did they do

Old oak tree, you don’t tell

You don’t say a thing

You just keep on holding

Everything

Verse 3

People sit down in your shade

And set their stuff on the ground

A bag, a cup, a sweater

That someone left in town

Some look up into your leaves

Some don’t look at all

Some stay a little while

Then get up when they’re called

Bridge

When the sun goes low at night

My shadow fits in yours

Then it gets small and disappears

Right by the roots and stones

Final Chorus

Old oak tree, what have you seen

That nobody knew

All the things that stayed right here

While the world just moved

Old oak tree, I’ll grow up too

Everybody does

But right now I’m sitting with you

And that’s enough