Once in my youth, I stood on the mountain And planted some pines in the sand Every day I looked their way But I just couldn't understand Why they never grew like I wanted them to I just couldn't understand why Now I've rambled around in this whole world through And the day I just happened by Tall pines, tall pines Reachin' up for the clouds Tall pines, tall pines And I bet you wouldn't know me now I'll never forget the mornin' I left The hum of the bees in the hay The farther I walk, the louder they talked How silent it seems here today There's the old wire fence we built inch by inch Surroundin' the old family graves Now there's one gravestone standin' all alone There waitin' to meet me in the shade Tall pines, tall pines Reachin' up for the clouds Tall pines, tall pines I bet you wouldn't know me now Tall pines, tall pines Reachin' up for the clouds Tall pines, tall pines I've come home to sleep beneath your boughs