Oak Tree By the River

Down by the river

Two children would play

Splashing in the summer sun

Down by the river

Two children would run

Through the autumn leaves

And round the tall oak tree

They’d laugh and cheer with glee

As the wind shook that tree

Down by the river

Two children would

Wonder why the river

Frozen stood still

And ever so carefully

Slide on the ice

As the cold wind whistled by

Down by the river

Two children grew up

And the old oak tree

Watched them with joy

Suddenly they went away

And the old oak stood alone

Alone and sorrowed

For the children who came no more

Then one day two teenagers appeared

And the old oak

Recognized his friends

They were the children

Of long ago

Now teenagers in love

Down by the river

Two teenagers

Would laugh and kiss

And the boy hung up a swing

And they enjoyed

Many pleasurable moments there

As the oak nodded and approved

Of the hours they spent

Down by the river

But even youth grow up too quickly

And soon the oak was alone again

He marked the season

By the leaves, he shed and grew

And he wondered if he’d spend

The rest of his years all alone

Down by the river

Then one day in joyful glee

The old oak tree

Saw two people approaching

With them was a little girl

And the old oak tree

Shook his leaves in greeting

They were his long-lost friends

Now grown and married

The little girl

Squealed in great delight

As she saw the swing

It still stood right there

A little worn with time

And the young man

Swung his daughter on the swing

And they all sat down to a picnic

Down by the river