A D A E F#m

           A
There is a tree, flowers in spring.
             F#m              A
White cherry buds, twenty-two rings.
             F#m                  A
I helped her grow, but have never seen
         E             F#m
Carolina winter or Aberdeen.

                    A
From the Missisippi floodgates my body churned.
             F#m             A
Up the river delta my mother yearned
             F#m              A
to taste the sweetness of her pain
        E                F#m
fallin' down in Carolina rain.

         D                A
And if I stay I'll stay today.
            F#m             A
My body has followed in her wake.
          D            A
If I'm to go, I'll go away
       E                   F#m
to Aberdeen and there I'll wait.

E F#m

                   A
She stayed by the sea hardened town.
         F#m           A
Smell of fish watered down,
         F#m           A
Taste of liquor on her mouth,
                 E                    F#m
and her heart it wandered down to the south.

         D                A
And if I stay I'll stay today.
            F#m             A
My body has followed in her wake.
          D            A
If I'm to go, I'll go away
       E                   F#m
to Aberdeen and there I'll wait.

A F#m A F#m A E F#m

            A
Her body is now hard from the years.
               F#m               A
She's still as strong, still as fierce.
           F#m             A
I've taken all she had to give
          E                F#m
and given back the will to live.

         D                A
And if I stay I'll stay today.
            F#m             A
My body has followed in her wake.
          D            A
If I'm to go, I'll go away
       E                   F#m
to Aberdeen and there I'll wait.

       E                  F#m
To Aberdeen and there I'll wait
       E                  F#m
To Aberdeen and there I'll wait