THE GIVING TREE [INTRO — tiny music box, leaves rustling, close whispered vocal] Come sit underneath me You look tired again You don’t have to tell me Where you’ve been I saved you something I thought you’d like Take it Really I’m alright [VERSE 1 — delicate, warm] I learned how you take your coffee Remembered songs you said you loved I keep little pieces of everybody Tucked inside my head because— Seeing you smile does something to me Makes this whole world feel less heavy So if I have something you need Why wouldn’t I give it freely? A little time A little sleep The sweetest fruit The best of me Don’t say thank you You don’t have to That’s what love means At least to me [PRE-CHORUS — slight ache enters] And I don’t keep receipts I don’t count what leaves But sometimes when it’s quiet I notice what’s missing from me [CHORUS — beautiful, swelling] I’m the giving tree Take an apple, take a branch Take the shade surrounding me If I can make your hurting stop Then that’s enough for me And I don’t need repayment Love was never currency I just wonder what it feels like When somebody— [small pause] Gives to me. [VERSE 2 — beat enters softly] I’ll answer when it’s 3 AM I’ll listen to the story twice I’ll make your birthday something special I’ll remember what you like I’ll clap the loudest when you’re winning Hold your pieces when you break And I swear I love to do it Every single thing I gave Was mine to give I chose it So why does my chest hurt When nobody notices? [PRE-CHORUS — voice beginning to crack] No, no— That’s ugly Don’t think like that Kindness isn’t kindness If you’re waiting to get it back So I’ll swallow that little question Before anybody sees But it’s getting harder To hide it underneath my leaves [CHORUS — bigger] I’m the giving tree Take an apple, take a branch Take whatever you might need I’ll grow another tomorrow Don’t you worry about me No, I don’t need repayment You don’t owe me anything I just wonder what it feels like When somebody Thinks of me Before I have to ask them to. [POST-CHORUS — whispered layers] I shouldn’t have to ask… No— That’s not fair. They don’t know. You never told them. You’re okay. You’re okay. You’re okay. [BRIDGE — instrumentation thinning out] But sometimes… I want somebody to remember The tiny things I said I want somebody staying up Because something’s wrong inside my head I want somebody getting excited Just because they made me smile I want somebody pouring love into me Without me pouring first this time And God— [voice breaking] I feel horrible saying that. Because I gave it away. It isn’t mine anymore. You don’t owe me. You don’t owe me. You don’t— [BREAKDOWN — guitars suddenly tear through the track] THEN WHY AM I SO EMPTY?! [SCREAMED] WHO WATERS ME WHEN I CAN’T MAKE IT RAIN?! WHO HOLDS MY BRANCHES WHEN THEY BREAK UNDER THE WEIGHT?! I KNOW YOU DON’T OWE ME! I KNOW! I KNOW! THAT’S WHY I NEVER SAY A THING! [half-screamed, half-sobbing] I DON’T WANT MY LOVE BACK! I JUST WANNA KNOW— WHAT IT FEELS LIKE— TO BE GIVEN TO! [INSTRUMENTAL COLLAPSE] [soft breathing] [FINAL CHORUS — fragile, almost lullaby-like] I’m still the giving tree And tomorrow I’ll probably bloom again I’ll grow something beautiful And hand it to my friends Because making people happy Still makes me happy too And I won’t turn my kindness bitter Just because I’m hurting too Maybe love isn’t a trade Maybe that’s what scares me Because I can give my whole heart freely And still wish Someone would choose To give theirs to me [OUTRO — music box returning] So take another apple Take another branch I grew it just for you [long pause] But if you ever think about it… Maybe bring me water too. [whisper] You don’t have to. …I’d just really like it.
