In the sticks down an old dirt road near a small Kentucky town
When his daddy would come home
Out past the old red barn in sycamore tree
Is where little Zach would go
And high above the guilt and pain
The only place that he was safe

Was high above in the strong arms of the sycamore tree
You could hear a small voice in the wind
Sayin', "Please don't let him do that to me"
Prayin' to be born again
In the sycamore tree

Time went on as it always does, and his daddy's time had come
How he felt was hard to say
He often wondered how he'd ever make it through
But as they buried him that day
He realized it's not my fault
And as the leaves began to fall

From high above in the strong arms of the sycamore tree
You could hear forgiveness in the wind
Singin' out, "Find the truth and the truth will set you free"
Broken chains and a heart on the mend
'Neath the sycamore tree, oh

And like an answer to his praying
As he watched his child playing

High above in the strong arms of the sycamore tree
You could hear a small voice in the wind
Sayin', "Please Daddy won't you come and play with me"
In the sycamore tree
The sycamore tree

Forgiveness will set you free
Forgiveness, forgiveness
Forgiveness will set you free
Forgiveness, forgiveness


Lyrics submitted by Shoot_Me

The Sycamore Tree Lyrics as written by Steve Rosen Paul Brandt

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc

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The Sycamore Tree song meanings
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  • 0
    General Comment

    I believe that, in the beginning of the song, the boy's mother dies due to complications during childbirth, for which his father never forgave him. When he says, high above the guilt and pain, I think it's meaning is that his father always made him feel guilty and blamed him, as though it was his fault that she was gone, and the pain that the boy must have felt to have neither mother nor father (because his father resented him) to care for him. In the strong arms of the sycamore tree was where he felt cared for and protected.

    Karkyon April 11, 2008   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning

    Actually Paul Brandt has explained the meaning of the song in various interviews.

    He actually had a sycamore tree in his back yard when he was living in Nashville and that's why the tree in the song became a sycamore tree. (The tree in his back yard was hit by lightning not long after the song was written.)

    The song is actually about abuse. Zach's dad hits his mom and Zach is asking the wind (or God) to keep his father from hurting him and he's praying to be "born again" or saved from the situation.

    Later when his father dies, Zach realizes it wasn't his fault and that he can be a better father than his fater was. Forgiveness will set him free.

    Beautiful song and gives me tons of hope as I suffered at the hands of my mother as a child. I pray that I can do better, just like Zach.

    aj365on July 06, 2011   Link

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