There is a house built out of stone
Wooden floors, walls and window sills
Tables and chairs worn by all of the dust
This is a place where I don't feel alone
This is a place where I feel at home
'Cause, I built a home
For you
For me
Until it disappeared
From me
From you
And now, it's time to leave and turn to dust
Out in the garden where we planted the seeds
There is a tree as old as me
Branches were sewn by the color of green
Ground had arose and passed it's knees
By the cracks of the skin I climbed to the top
I climbed the tree to see the world
When the gusts came around to blow me down
I held on as tightly as you held onto me
I held on as tightly as you held onto me
And, I built a home
For you
For me
Until it disappeared
From me
From you
And now, it's time
To leave and turn
To dust
Wooden floors, walls and window sills
Tables and chairs worn by all of the dust
This is a place where I don't feel alone
This is a place where I feel at home
'Cause, I built a home
For you
For me
Until it disappeared
From me
From you
And now, it's time to leave and turn to dust
Out in the garden where we planted the seeds
There is a tree as old as me
Branches were sewn by the color of green
Ground had arose and passed it's knees
By the cracks of the skin I climbed to the top
I climbed the tree to see the world
When the gusts came around to blow me down
I held on as tightly as you held onto me
I held on as tightly as you held onto me
And, I built a home
For you
For me
Until it disappeared
From me
From you
And now, it's time
To leave and turn
To dust
Lyrics submitted by Jonzard, edited by llamachama
To Build a Home Lyrics as written by Patrick Watson Jason Angus Stoddart Swinscoe
Lyrics © THIRD SIDE MUSIC INC.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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The tree is quite obviously representative of the writer and, quite frankly, makes me want to plant a tree for my kids if/when I have them.
The line "branches were sewn by the color green" indicates the tree/writer has grown into a healthy mature being.
That said, the "cracks of the skin" with which the tree was climbed indicate that the growth experienced has not been without some difficulties/scars. The fact that the tree was climbed by these cracks is very poignant in the sense that we typically learn/grow from our mistakes and, provided we actually learn/grow, this is what allows us to "rise" and see the world.
The last part of this verse almost brought me to tears when I first heard it simply because of the simplicity of the comparison... hanging on for dear life atop a tree blowing in the wind is very much like hanging on for dear life amidst a dying love. I think we've all been there and I'm not sure I need to say much more.
Ultimately I think this song stands for the notion that, no matter how solid or stable or satisfying something is (whether it be a house, your beliefs or a relationship), nothing is permanent and no matter how tightly we hold onto things/people, sometimes they disappear anyway. Although it is sad in a certain respect, I think it really speaks more to enjoying the moments we have when we have them without any expectations of permanence. In other words, we can either focus on the tragedy of the fleeting nature of these things; the difficulty of choice between a past life and a new one; or we can focus on the beauty of the moments in which we live and have lived and will continue to live with the knowledge that they too will pass.
If you must hold on to anything, let it be the fruits of those seemingly permanent harvests.
In the end though, I think the song is about something simple. To me it makes me think of my Dad — all the good times and all the lost time. His imagery viscerally conjures this ascendance and eventual decline. The artist isn’t overly lamenting the situation. He’s still fond of what he had and understanding of what is to come. Things come and go, but we live, we love, and we always remember.
this is what I think of when hearing this song.
okay this is cheesy but i live in the country and i always go out to the fields and drive by and play this song...its relaxing and helps me think about things.