Family Tree

I have a mother, I have a pa
We look pretty in that picture on the wall
I love my brothers and my sisters too
Lord, forgive them, for they know not what they do

My mama never taught me 'bout the world
'Cause the world turned her inside out
My pa was the right arm of the law
Kept us all locked in the house
My brothers and my sisters needed love
So I grew and they clung to me
Till I became the roots and the fruits
And the branches on my family tree

Pain carved its name
And my heart froze like winter
And the splinter kindled embers
Lay forgotten till they blossomed

And they were hangin' out on a limb
All those hopes and dreams just blowing in the wind
All my aunties and my uncles too
Said "she'll be back and pregnant on her own in a month or two"

My mama kicked me out of the house
On the day I turned 17
My daddy called me up and told me
Boxes of my stuff was sittin' on the street
Felt like I had the world on my shoulders
But really, it was at my feet
Till I became the roots and the fruits
And the branches on my family tree

Pain carved its name
And my heart froze like winter
And the splinter kindled embers
Lay forgotten till they blossomed

My family tree, I have watered
Till it's outgrown my garden
All these years bleeding tears
I'm at peace underneath

My family tree
My family tree
My family tree