The Giving Tree
Once there was a giving tree
Who loved a little boy
And everyday the boy would come to play
Swinging from her branches
Sleeping in her shades
Laughing all the summer hours away
And so they loved, and oh the tree was happy
Oh, the tree was glad
But soon the boy grew older
And one day he came and said
Can you give me some money, tree
To buy some things I've found
I have no money, said the tree
Just apples, twigs and leaves
But you can take my apples, boy
And sell them in the town
And so he did, and oh the tree was happy
Oh, the tree was glad
Soon again the boy came back
And he said to the tree, I'm now a man
And I must have a house that's all my own
I can't give you a house, said the tree
The forest is my home
But you may cut my branches off
And build yourself a home
And so he did, and oh the tree was happy
Oh, the tree was glad
And time went by and the boy came back
With sadness in his eyes
My life has turned so cold, he said
And I need sunny days
I'm nothing buy my trunk, she said
But you may cut it down
And build yourself a boat and sail away
And so he did, and oh the tree was happy
Oh, the tree was glad
And after years, the boy came back
From both ends of the world
I really cannot help you
If you ask another gift
I'm nothing but an old stump now
I'm sorry, boy, she said
I'm sorry, but I've nothing more to give
I don't need very much now
Just a quiet place to rest
The boy, he whispered with a weary smile
Well, said the tree, an old stump is still as good for that
Come, boy, she said, sit down
Sit down and rest awhile
And so he did, and oh the tree was happy
Oh, the tree was glad
一棵奉獻樹（歌詞）
這首歌的詞曲作者西爾弗斯坦(Shel Silverstein)堪稱二十世紀美國文藝界令人印象最為深刻的鬼才之一，1932年出生于芝加哥，少年時代就因為缺乏運動細胞、長相又不討女孩子喜歡，因此決定把自己的時間用來寫詩和作畫，由于當時的他從未接觸過任何名家的作品，反而發展出一種非常獨特的個人風格，等到女孩子們因為他的表現而開始注意到他的時候，他已經忙得沒有時間去理會她們了。
西爾弗斯坦多才多藝，除了詩人、畫家、詞曲作家、唱片制作人和歌手等身份之外，他令人印象最為深刻的，卻是他為兒童們所繪制與編寫的兒童文學作品，以及童詩與兒歌。不過，他并不是一開始就從事兒童作品創作的，因為他早期都是以成年人作為設定的讀者群，由于他的出版公司主編獨具慧眼，建議他嘗試兒童作品，沒想到卻激發了他的另一種潛力。出版於1964年的《奉獻的樹》是他最早的兒童文學作品之一，也是最受推崇與喜愛的經典。
這首歌的演唱者巴比貝爾是西爾弗斯坦的老友，也是鄉村歌壇最具特色的資深藝人之一。他來自俄亥俄州，出身貧門，青少年時代在農場和成衣廠打工。由于喜愛音樂、卻又買不起樂器，自己做了一把吉他開始練習，進而在一支鄉村樂隊里面找到一份沒有酬勞的工作。他最重要的作品，是在70年代推出的一系列專輯，這首“一棵奉獻樹”就是他跟鬼才大師西爾弗斯坦合作，根據《奉獻的樹》這篇兒童作品改編的一首想到成功的歌曲。
摘自 我愛英語網
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