Once in my youth, I stood on this mountain 

And planted some pines in the sand 

Every day I looked their way 

But just couldn't understand 



Why they never grew like I thought they should do 

I just couldn't understand why 

Now I've rambled around this wide world through 

And today I just happened by 



   Tall pines, tall pines 

   Reaching up for the clouds 

   Tall pines, tall pines 

   I bet you wouldn't know me now. 



I'll never forget the morning I left 

The hum of the bees in the hay 

The farther I walk, the harder they talk 

How silent it seems here today 



There's an old rail fence that we built, inch by inch 

Surrounding the old family graves 

And there's one gravestone standing all alone 

There waiting to join me in the shade 



   Tall pines, tall pines 

   Reaching up for the clouds 

   Tall pines, tall pines 

   I've come home to sleep beneath your boughs.