The Woman Who Planted Trees
Emily Barker Lyrics

I can tell my age
I can determine my age

By the height of trees
By observing the height of the trees

By the years they've stood
By the number of years the trees have been growing

Growing over me
Growing taller than me

When I was a girl
When I was a child

You planted seeds
You sowed the seeds

And cast your love
And showed your love

Forever over me
Always, for a long time

When the land was dry
When the earth was parched

No food to eat
There was no food available

When the soil was sick
When the soil was unhealthy

And the river weak
And the river was feeble

You took a spade
You used a digging tool

Bare hands, bare feet
With no shoes or gloves

And sowed your love
You planted the seeds of love

Roots down deep
Roots that went deep into the earth

In the cool, dark shade
In the chilly, dimly lit spot

Leaves sing your name
The leaves whisper your name

Wild green tongues glisten in the glade
The lush, green grass sparkles in the clearing

Your branches warp, my fingers weft
Your branches bend and twist like the threads of a cloth

Weave me through this gift you left
Guide me through this present that you've given

From a prison cell
From a jail

You dreamt of trees
You imagined trees

Blood dried black
Blood that turned black

Upon your cheek
On your face

You didn't know
You weren't aware

Around the world
In different parts of the globe

People listened
People paid attention to you

People learned
People gained knowledge

Water returned
Water came back

Soil healed
The soil recovered

Hope restored with every yield
Every harvest brought back hope

Trees grew high
The trees grew tall

Bones grew strong
Bones became sturdy

Enough for everyone
Sufficient for all