Title: The Season of the Choke Cherry Tree Verse 1: I fought for every inch of ground, A stubborn heart, a will unbowed, Chasing love across these empty rooms, Words wither where silence blooms. Wanted roots and shade to grow, But you said, “No, it’s too much work, too much mess below.” Still I bought the tree, spaded soil in July’s heat— Sweat and anger at my feet. Pre-Chorus: Why’s this ground so hard, Lord? Why won’t it give way? Every rock a memory, Every stone a bitter day. Chorus: Digging through the stones of my sorrow, Breaking up the ground of my soul, Crying in the heat of the struggle, Longing for a heart made whole. Let the sweat and tears be water, Let the pain make room for seed— In the season of the choke cherry tree, God, come soften me. Verse 2: Hands blistered, spirit dry, Dragging wounds into the light, Rock by rock, I name my hurt, Unearthed secrets in the dirt. You showed me what I’d buried deep, Grief and anger I couldn’t keep. In the breaking, something true— A field for mercy breaking through. Pre-Chorus: Why’s this heart so stony, So lifeless and alone? But you whisper, “Every wound Is a stone that must be gone.” Chorus: Digging through the stones of my sorrow, Breaking up the ground of my soul, Crying in the heat of the struggle, Longing for a heart made whole. Let the sweat and tears be water, Let the pain make room for seed— In the season of the choke cherry tree, God, come soften me. Bridge: Let every root find open ground, Let old wounds be lifted out. Where stubborn pride and sorrow grew, Plant something wild and true. No more running from the breaking, No more hiding from the rain— God, meet me in this season— Let your healing rise again. Final Chorus: Digging through the stones of my sorrow, Breaking up the ground of my soul, Crying in the heat of the struggle, Longing for a heart made whole. Let the sweat and tears be water, Let the pain make room for seed— In the season of the choke cherry tree, God, come soften me. Outro: In the season of the choke cherry tree, God, come soften me. [ Artist’s Summary: “The Season of the Choke Cherry Tree” was inspired by a moment of struggle and stubbornness in my marriage, when the simple act of planting a tree became a mirror for my own heart. In my frustration, I tried to force new life into rocky, unyielding ground—only to realize God was inviting me to see how my heart, too, had become hard, wounded, and resistant to change. Each stone I dug out was a memory, a wound, or a piece of pain that had to be faced and removed. Through sweat, tears, and honest prayer, I discovered that true growth requires brokenness and surrender to Jesus. Just as the ground must be softened to receive new seed, so must our hearts yield to God’s healing and love. This song is a testimony to the hard work of transformation, the courage to face our pain, and the hope that God meets us right in the middle of our struggle—ready to turn our stubborn ground into a field of mercy and new beginnings.] [AlorawithDragon Music 2026 (C) All Rights Reserved.]
