down beneath the willow

down beneath the willow
i breathed the dappled air
i turned the granite grinding stone
till my axe could split a hair

down beneath the willow
i gave my axe a swing
and beneath the weeping willow
i heard the willow sing

i know it's true you love me
for the shade that i provide
and 'though you think you hate me
now i shade another's eyes

i know i can disarm you
with a memory of the light
that you'll take along dark roads
and hope to keep alive

your axe it has no edge for me
nor it ever will
another rests upon my boughs
but i shade your eyes still

and so i ever will.