[Intro — instrumental groove] [Verse 1] In the hush before the morning, when the world was slow and new, I heard a wind say, “Come and see,” and the sky was wide and true. There was a whisper in the grasses, and the waters hummed a tune, God’s fingers traced the daylight, then he left the moon. [Verse 2] We walked a path of green invitation, through the cradle of the land, Fruit hung like old decisions, wearing gold on every hand. A voice like velvet promise called me closer to the tree, Some things are given, some things taken — some things want to be free. [Chorus] Oh, be the tree that roots beside the river, steady in the sun, Let your leaves remember rain, let your fruit remember one. Blessed is the hand that waters, blessed is the quiet seed, We are pilgrims in the garden, learning what we need. [Verse 3] A serpent wore a crooked smile and a story in its eye, “You can be the light they never dreamed,” it sang, “and never die.” I tasted a forbidden brightness, and the colors rearranged, The world went bright then darker — nothing could stay the same. [Bridge — loose spoken / singable] We planted shame in secret pockets, hid our names beneath the ground, But the river kept on singing and the roots kept reaching down. There’s a law that isn’t written, there’s a mercy older still — If you stand where waters walk, you’ll learn to bend your will. [Chorus] Oh, be the tree that roots beside the river, steady in the sun, Let your leaves remember rain, let your fruit remember one. Blessed is the hand that waters, blessed is the quiet seed, We are pilgrims in the garden, learning what we need. [Verse 4] From dust we carved our long and longing stories, saw the dawn in every breath, We learned to lift our voices up, and we learned to meet our death. But the river keeps forgiving, keeps the old and new in line — If you follow where it wanders, you’ll be drinking just in time. [Instrumental — loose jam, harmonica / organ / slide guitar] [Pre-Chorus] And if the tempter comes a-calling with his honeyed, crooked plan, Remember how the river runs — it don’t care for any man. [Chorus — with harmony] Be the tree that roots beside the river, steady in the sun, Let your leaves remember rain, let your fruit remember one. Blessed is the hand that waters, blessed is the one who reads, The quiet book of sunlight — the small and stubborn seeds. [Outro — gentle repetition] So walk the garden slowly, keep your pockets light and clean, Sing low when morning breaks, and keep the wonder in between. Be river, be root, be humble and be brave — We’re passing through this garden, from cradle to the grave. [End on long instrumental fade — harmonies & looping organ]
