We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

I Was An Oak Tree

from Live at the Red Clay Theater by Jonathan Byrd

/

lyrics

I Was An Oak Tree - Jbyrd

I was an oak tree. It took a thousand years to grow.
I've seen kingdoms come and go.
I've seen the losers turned to lords and back again.
I held the rebels when they hung them from my limbs.
When men of fortune cast their futures on the sea,
that's when they came for me.

I was a slave ship under the standard of the cross,
a hallelujah holocaust.
Half were dead before we reached the other shore,
and the captain never saw the coming storm
that swept around the cape and took us by surprise.
Only eight survived.

I was a campfire, a pile of driftwood in the sand,
the only comfort in this land.
Eight hungry sailors roasted acorns that they'd found,
and left me burning as they stumbled toward the sound
of a church bell ringing out above the ocean's wind
and I was born again.

I am an oak tree, out along the wild Cape Fear,
and there is talk of freedom here.
Where is the kingdom that was here before I came?
Where have the people gone who only left their names?
A revolution's just a circle, after all,
and every kingdom falls.

I am an oak tree. If it takes a thousand years to grow,
I'll see kingdoms come and go.

credits

from Live at the Red Clay Theater, released January 27, 2015

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Jonathan Byrd Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Preacher's kid, Gulf War veteran, award-winning songwriter, Youtuber, teacher, and creativity coach from North Carolina.

“One of the top 50 songwriters of the last 50 years. ” — Chicago Tribune

“...a folk singer with the heart of a rock 'n' roll band.” — K. Oliver, Free Times.
... more

contact / help

Contact Jonathan Byrd

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this track or account

Jonathan Byrd recommends:

If you like Jonathan Byrd, you may also like: