Kathy Mattea - The Maple's Lament

When I was alive the birds would nest upon my boughs 

And all through long winter nights, the storms would 'round me howl
And when the day would come, I'd raise my branches to the sun 

I was the child of earth and sky, and all the world was one

But now that I am dead, the birds no longer sing in me 

And I feel no more the wind and rain, as when I was a tree 

But bound so tight in wire strings, I have no room to grow 

And I am but the slave who sings, when master draws the bow

But sometimes from my memories I can sing the birds in flight 

And I can sing of sweet dark earth and endless starry nights 

But oh, my favorite song of all, I truly do believe 

Is the song the sunlight sang to me while dancing on my leaves