The Garden Song
Tommy Makem & Liam Clancy Lyrics

Inch by inch, row by row,
Slowly and steadily, by planting one seed at a time and cultivating the land, the garden will grow.

Gonna make this garden grow,
This is an action-oriented plan and the objective is to build the garden.

All it takes is a rake and a hoe,
The cultivation of land is not a daunting task, simple tools like the rake and hoe will do it perfectly.

And a piece of fertile ground.
A small piece of land that is rich in nutrients and ready for planting is all that is required.

Someone bless these seeds I sow,
A supplication to a higher power to bless the seeds that are about to be planted and to ensure their flourishing.

Someone warm them from below,
The request is to protect the seeds from cold and to facilitate germination.

'Till the rain comes tumblin' down.
The expectation is to receive either natural or artificial irrigation for further growth.

Pullin' weeds and pickin' stones,
Clearing the land of weeds and stones is a crucial aspect in the cultivation of land.

Man is made of dreams and bones,
The personal desire to grow food is innate, coming from both thoughts and the physical structure of the human body.

Feel the need to grow my own,
Necessity has prompted the cultivation of one's own food.

'Cause the time is close at hand.
As a result of changes happening, it's necessary to live self-sufficiently.

Grain for grain, sun and rain,
Agricultural growth hinges on the rule of nature, which dictates that the sun and the rain are the main requirements for the development of crops.

Find my way in Nature's chain,
Understanding how nature works and finding yourself connected with it is critical to the success of the cultivation of crops.

Tune my body and my brain
The natural cycle of planting and harvesting crops is in tune with the human body and brain, keeping them healthy.

To the music from the land.
The sounds and rhythm of the land and life on the farm create a harmonious and happy environment.

Plant your rows straight and long,
Plants have to be grown in straight rows and a distance, which increases yields and the area allotted for future plantings.

Temper them with prayer and song,
A combination of prayer and music is believed to have a calming effect on the plants, as well as to support their development.

Mother Earth will make you strong
Caring and nurturing to the land, Mother Earth, results in nourishing crops and the overall health, strength and resilience it offers in return.

If you give her loving care.
With appropriate care and attention to the land, the crops will flourish, leading to meals that taste delicious and nourish the soul.

An old crow watching hungrily
A visual image of a crow watching the fruits of the gardener's efforts, always willing to take a share.

From his perch in yonder tree,
The bird is in a nearby tree, waiting for a chance to steal some ripe fruits or seeds.

In my garden I'm as free
In the garden, a refuge and place of peace, one can be themselves and work without fear of societal judgment, societalism or otherwise.

As that feathered thief up there.
The thief in the tree is a natural element, just like the garden, and has every right to exist and do what it does, as does the gardener.