I saw a tree by the riverside,
One day as I walked along,
Straight as an arrow,
And pointing to the sky,
Growing tall and strong.
How do you grow so tall and strong,
I said to the riverside tree,
This is the song that my tree friend sang to me.
Chorus:
I've got roots growing down to the water,
I've got leaves growing up to the sunshine,
And the fruit that I bear is a sign of life in me.
I am shade from the hot summer sundown,
I am nest for the birds of the heaven,
I'm becoming what the Lord of trees has meant me to be,
A strong young tree.
I saw a tree in the winter time,
When snow lay on the ground,
Straight as an arrow and
I saw a tree in the city streets,
Where buildings blocked the sun,
Green and lovely,
I could see it gave joy to ev'ryone.
How do you grow in the city streets,
I said to the downtown tree.
This is the song that my tree friend sang to me.
(Chorus)
Additional stanza:
I saw a tree in the winter time,
When snow lay on the ground,
Straight as an arrow and pointing to the sky,
And winter winds blew all around.
How do you stay so tall and strong,
I said to the winter - time tree,
This is the song that my tree friend sang to me.