The Giving Tree

Shel Silvestein

C                             F                        C

Once there was a giving tree who loved a little boy

          D7                                                G

And everyday the boy would come to play

     C                            F               C

Swinging from the branches, sleeping in the shade

   D7                                               G

Laughing all the summer’s hours away

        F                                                C       G7                        C

And so they love, Oh the tree was happy, Oh, the tree was glad

C                              F                         C

But soon the boy grew older and one day he came and said

           D7                                                                           G

“Can you give me some money, tree, to buy something I’ve found”

      C                          F                     C

“I have no money”, said the tree “Just apples, twigs and leaves”

         D7                                                                       G

“But you can take my apples, boy, and sell them in the town”

        F                                                 C      G7                        C

And so he did and Oh, the tree was happy, Oh the tree was glad

 C                              F                               C

But soon again the boy came back and he said to the tree

          D7                                             G

“I’m now a man and I must have a house that’s all my home”

 C                                          F                   C     

“I can’t give you a house”, she said, “The forest is my house”

         D7                                                  G

“But you may cut my branches off and build yourself a home”

        F                                        C       G7                        C

And so he did Oh, the tree was happy, Oh the tree was glad

(change key)

          D                              G                                D

And time went by and the boy came back with sadness in his eyes

   E7                                                           A               

“My life has turned so cold”, he says “ and I need sunny days”

   D                                               G                D

“I’ve nothing but my trunk”, she said “ But you can cut it down

          E7                                           A

And build yourself a boat and sail away”

         G                                             D      A7                       D

And so he did and Oh the tree was happy, Oh, the tree was glad

                   D                                     E7     

And after years the boy came back; both of them were old

                                      A

“ I really cannot help you if you ask for another gift”

    D                              G                     D

“I’m nothing but an old stump now, I’m sorry boy” she said

  E7                                                     A  

I’m sorry but I’ve nothing more to give”

   D                                G                        D

“I do not need very much now,  just a quiet place to rest”

         E      

The boy, he whispered with a weary smile

      A                                                        D                     G  

“Well”, said the tree, “An old stump is still good for that”

                        D                           E7                                A

“Come boy”, she said, “Sit down, sit down and rest a while”

        G                                                 D      A7                       D  

And so he did and Oh, the trees was happy, Oh, the tree was glad.

* The original song which Bobby sang was in A Key to B key.