The Leaning Tree

[Chorus]
I kept every branch, every maybe, every door
Now the whole tree’s leaning, roots can’t hold no more
Pick one, pick two—no, I’ll keep them all
I grew so much future I can’t stand tall

[Verse 1]
There’s a map in my pocket with a hundred red routes
A shelf full of selves I could still turn out
I said, “Leave them alive; let the whole thing grow”
Now the limbs scrape the dirt everywhere I go

[Pre-Chorus]
You said, “Choose what can carry you”
I laughed like a fool with a forest to prove

[Chorus]
I kept every branch, every maybe, every door
Now the whole tree’s leaning, roots can’t hold no more
Pick one, pick two—no, I’ll keep them all
I grew so much future I can’t stand tall

[Verse 2]
One branch wants a stage, one wants a quiet room
One’s building a boat, one’s planting in June
I water them all till the bucket runs dry
Then blame the poor ground when the green starts to lie

[Bridge]
Little scissors on the table, shining like a dare
One clean cut could give the other branches air
But I name each twig a promise, each leaf a perfect plan
Now I’m holding up the orchard with two shaking hands

[Final Chorus]
I kept every branch, every maybe, every door
Now the whole tree’s leaning, roots can’t hold no more
Pick one, pick two—let the rest fall
I can grow toward the sunlight without growing them all

[Outro]
One good branch
One open sky
The roots hold fast
I don’t have to be every life