There is a tree
Flowers in spring
White cherry buds
22 rings
I helped her grow
But have never seen
Carolina winter, or Aberdeen.
From the Mississippi floodgates
My body churned
Up the river delta
My mother yearned
To taste the sweetness of her pain
Falling down
In Carolina rain
And if I stay, I'll stay today
My body will follow in her wake
If I'm to go, I'll go away
To Aberdeen, and there I'll wait
She stayed by the sea
Hardened town
Smell of fish
Watered down
Taste of liquor
On her mouth
And her heart it wandered
Down to the south
And if I stay, I'll stay today
My body will follow in her wake
If I'm to go, I'll go away
To Aberdeen, and there I'll wait
Her body is now
Hard from the years
She's still as strong
Still as fierce
I've taken all she had to give
And given back the will to live
And if I stay, I'll stay today
My body will follow in her wake
If I'm to go, I'll go away
To Aberdeen, and there I'll wait