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 and said
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 nothing but my trunk, she said
But you may cut it down
And build 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 you
If you ask another gift
I'm nothing but an old stump now
I'm sorry boy, she said
I'm sorry but I've nothing 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