The Shade They Left for Us

Lyrics

[Verse 1] There's an old oak on the hill Throwing shade across the yard Someone planted it on faith Long before the years got hard Back in 1954 Two Brown County hearts said yes [Chorus] They planted trees they'd never sit beneath Sowed love in rows for all of us to reap Hand in hand through every kind of weather Faith and grace that held them close together Wynell and Alton, what you built still stands A legacy grown from your young hands [Verse 2] Daddy served in Navy blue Out on California's coast Then home to Texas, building dreams Where the future needed him most He built a school for new machines Years ahead of all the rest [Chorus] They planted trees they'd never sit beneath Sowed love in rows for all of us to reap Hand in hand through every kind of weather Faith and grace that held them close together Wynell and Alton, what you built still stands A legacy grown from your young hands [Bridge] Side by side in the baptism water Young parents giving their hearts to the Lord They saw the whole wide world together And never stopped learning, always wanting more [Verse 3] Mama kept us steady till we'd grown Then earned degrees and taught her own Thousands sat in both their classrooms Hometown hearts they served for years Now Daddy's gone near twenty-five She tends their gardens, grateful tears [Chorus] They planted trees they'd never sit beneath Sowed love in rows for every child to reap Daddy rests now in heaven's shade Mama keeps every promise made Wynell and Alton, love that never ends A legacy that blooms and blooms again [Outro] When our children's children rest Beneath those branches wide and free They'll feel the love of two young hearts Still growing in that tree