Story Behind The Song

This is a true story of a tree that grew in my front yard. This tree did get struck by lightening. My father did show me how to cover the trunk wound with tar. But, this song is also a metaphor for a child's growth. As a child, I was a victim of child abuse. My mother was mentally ill. My father protected me. In some ways, all children suffer some pain and loss. When this occurs it can stunt vitality and reduce our ability to grow. When pain/loss occurs we need someone important in our lives to step in to help comfort us and to lead us back to health/strength. My father did this for me. This song speaks to the process of growth in both good times and bad times.

Song Description

The song tells the story of a child who loved his front yard tree. He would lay under the tree's shade during the summer. One evening a storm came to his neighborhood and lightening struck the tree, tearing into the trunk. His Dad knew what needed to be done. He showed his son how to cover the wounded tree with tar. The tree survived and grew, thanks to his Dad.

Lyrics

The Tree Song

Chorus:
Way high above me there once stood a tree.
Its branches were growing for all to see.
And, ricky, ticky tee, just like that tree, I felt something growing inside of me.

1st Verse:
I guess everyone has their own special tree.
It's something you just grow up with.
On a hot summer's day, I lay in its shade with the grass as a pillow for my head.
And, looking up I'd wonder as each leaf was tossed by the breeze,
If I'd ever grow up to be as strong as that tree.

Chorus:
Its branches were growing for all to see.
And, ricky, ticky tee, just like that tree, I felt something growing inside of me.

2nd Verse:
You see when I was a young boy we had a storm.
And, it messed up the neighborhood bad.
My tree got struck by lightening as I was pulling covers over my head.
And, I remember that morning, sun shining like nothing was wrong.
My tree in the front yard had its trunk burnt and torn.

Chorus:
Its branches were twisted for all to see.
And, ricky, ticky tee, just like that tree, I felt something hurting inside of me.

Middle eight:
But, Dad knew what had to be done. "Don't tear the bark off", he said.
"We'll get some tar and paint it on." "This helps the tree to mend."

3rd Verse:
It didn't take, but just one year, you know what my Dad said was true.
It just covered its scar with a new branch of leaves, stood tall and grew.
It just covered its scar with a new branch of leaves, stood tall and grew.
I just covered my scar, learned how to grieve, stood tall and grew.

Words/Music: Copyright © Gary Antelept
Chronicle/Gary Antelept
4146 Ashbourne Lane
Indianapolis, IN 46226
Cell: 317-698-5924
Email: garyant@sbcglobal.net
Websites: www.chroniclesongs.com; www.MySpace.com/chroniclesongs