"Old Switch Tree"

Old switch tree made a man out of me

Stitched and stained my pocket sleeves

To hammer out my hands

So they could heed my mother's calling

For a twig between the match,

And all I ever wanted was for her to hit me last

And hit me fast, then let it be.

Old switch tree made a man out of me

Wore and tore my tired feet

For breaking in my knees

So they could plead for mother's mercy

For the hit to be delayed

Then all the hurt and anger

Can relax, enter the past

And let us be.

Don't you know

You need loving sunlight

To make you grow?

All I ever got

And ever taught

Was an odd way of showing

That your mother's got love for you.