I Saw A Tree By The Riverside
One Day As I Walked Along,
Straight As An Arrow And Pointing To The Sky Growing Tall And Strong
How Do You Grow So Tall And Strong? I Said To The Riverside Tree,
This Is The Song That My Tree Friend Sang To Me.

I’ve Got Roots Going Down To The Water,
I’ve Got Leaves Growing Up To The Sunshine,
And The Fruit That I Bear Is A Sign Of Life In Me.
I Am Shade From The Hot Summer Sundown,
I Am Nest For The Birds Of The Heaven,
I’m Becoming What The Lord Of Trees Has Meant Me To Be . . .
A Strong, Strong Tree.

I Saw A Tree In The City Street, Where Buildings Blocked The Sun,
Green And Lovely I Could See, It Gave Joy To Everyone.
How Do You Grow In The City Streets? I Said To The Downtown Tree,
This Is The Song That My Tree Friend Sang To Me.

I’ve Got Roots Going Down To The Water,
I’ve Got Leaves Growing Up To The Sunshine,
And The Fruit That I Bear Is A Sign Of Life In Me.
I Am Shade From The Hot Summer Sundown,
I Am Nest For The Birds Of The Heaven,
I’m Becoming What The Lord Of Trees Has Meant Me To Be . . .
A Strong, Strong Tree.

Looking Around Me Frustrated One I See, In Bondage And Seeking To Be Free
From Palace To Ghetto, The Searching Hearts Cry Out, Aching With Fear And With Doubt
But Who Can They Turn To When No One Seems To Care, Where Can The Find Relief
Jesus Christ Is The Fountain Of Life So Free

So Let Your Roots Go Down To The Waters
Let You Hands Lift Praise To Heaven
And The Fruit That You Bear Be A Sign Of Christ In You
You’ll Be Light For The Lost And Forsaken
And A Rest For The Weak And The Weary,
You’ll Become What The Lord Our God Has Meant You To Be . . .
A Strong, Strong Tree.