Say Goodbye to the Little Girl Tree

[Verse 1]

O say goodbye to the little girl tree

O you know that I must say goodbye

To the little girl tree

This wall I built around you

Is made out of stone-lies

O little girl the truth would be

An axe in thee

O father look to your daughter

Brick of grief and stricken mortar

With this ring

This silver hoop of wire

I bind your maiden mainstem

Just to keep you as a child

[Verse 2]

O say goodbye to the little girl tree

O you know that I must say goodbye

To my little girl tree

How fast your candy bones

Reached out for me

I must say goodbye to your brittle bones

Crying out for me

O you know that I must say goodbye

O goodbye

Even though you will betray me

The very minute that I leave

[Verse 3]

O say goodbye to the little girl tree

O Lord you know that I must say goodbye

To that little girl tree

I rise up her girl-child lumps and slipping knots

Into her laden boughs

And amongst her roping limbs

Like a swollen neck vein branching

Into smaller lesser veins

That must all just sing and say goodbye

And let her blossom veils fly

Her velvet gown

Down down down

Down down down

Down down down and goodbye

For you know that I must say goodbye

[Verse 4]

To a rhythm softly tortured

Of a motion back and forth

That's a rhythm sweetly tortured

O that's the rhythm of the orchard

And you know that I must say goodbye

To that little girl tree

O goodbye

Yes goodbye

For you know that I must die

Down down down

Down down down

Down down down and goodbye

For you know that I must die

Yes you know that I must die

O-o you know that I must die