Verse 1
A long time ago not far from here

family thrived until the wife and boy died.

Now an old man, he was left all alone.

Living in the shadow, his heart’s turned to stone.

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Verse 2
The house paint’s peeling. The porch rails broke.

An old swing hangs from the big red oak.

The light in the kitchen always stays on

That old man sits from dusk to dawn.

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Chorus
The big red oak sheds its leaves before the winter winds blow.

But when springtime comes, they will grow.

Dawn breaks through the long dark night

All creation seeks the sun’s bright light

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Verse 3
Just down the road a new family moved in.

A mom and her boy starting over again.

A husband and father lost on patrol

Crying in her pillow, theirs lives on hold.

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Verse 4
I heard it happened late one spring

That little boy climbed on the old man’s swing.

Under the big red oak, he soared sky high.

The old man watched with a tear in his eye.

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Chorus
The big red oak sheds its leaves before the winter winds blow.

But when springtime comes, they will grow.

Dawn breaks through the long dark night

All creation seeks the sun’s bright light

​

Verse 5
The little boy’s mom saw him swing in the tree

She smiled as he flew and laughed with glee.

She waved to the old man and said hello.

With a nod of his head, they both watched the boy go

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Verse 6
The old man never spoke about any thing

But he painted the house and fixed that old swing.

Sometimes he smiles and whistles a little tune

When the mom and her boy stop each afternoon.

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Chorus
The big red oak sheds its leaves before the winter winds blow.

But when springtime comes, they will grow.

Dawn breaks through the long dark night

All creation seeks the sun’s bright light