nathansheppard.net

Lyrics

The true tale is told and the story unfolds
And kept in the hearts of the people
Away down south where the mighty oaks grow
With the elms and the pines and the maples

The old Classic Town where the arches are found
And nature is cherished quite loudly
Memorials are kept and never are swept
Away with traditions held proudly

The town started small but then grew with the times
With the roads and buildings expanding
They cleared to the top of the hill and were stopped
By a tree that stood tall and commanding

A professor who shared at the old college there
Was a man who loved forests and nature
The Colonel named Jackson soon went into action
To save his dear white oak from danger

Now Jackson was pleased to love his great trees
But none he loved better than this one
To save this fell-ow from the cruel Axman’s blow
Became his sole duty and mission

So he called it a friend and he gave it a name
As the tree that owns its own self now
The officials agreed and adopted the deed
The commitment was made in a firm vow

In the year of our lord eighteen thirty and two
a tree became its own owner
Above all his peers for four hundred years
An intriguing and marvelous wonder

As seasons were spent and the times came and went
Through spring summer fall and the winter
He got old and meek and his branches grew weak
And his ancient grey trunk became splintered

Death winds blew through in the year forty two
They mourned him with tears on their faces
Traditions can't die so to keep them alive
They put his son in the same placement

The seedling grew stronger since forty six onward
Now stands as a towering bastion
The plaque still remains, it's surrounded by chains
And speaks of Sir Jackson's devotion

The story lives on and it's one that's well known
As tradition that's kept by the people
Away down south where the mighty oaks grow
There stands one that's not met his equal