(Irving Berlin and Vincent Bryan)
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[1st verse:]
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A great big tree grows near our house
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It's been there quite some time
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This tree's a slipp'ry elm tree and very hard to climb
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But when my wife starts after me, up in that tree I roost
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I go up like a healthy squirrel and never need no boost
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The other day a woodman came to chop the refuge down
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And carve it into kindling wood, to peddle 'round the town
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I says to him, "I pray thee cease, desist, refrain and stop
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Lay down that razor, man, chop not a single chop"
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[Refrain:]
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Woodman, woodman, spare that tree
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Touch not a single bough
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For years it has protected me
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And I'll protect it now
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Chop down an oak, a birch or pine
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But not this slipp'ry elm of mine
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It's the only tree that my wife can't climb
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So spare that tree
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[2nd verse:]
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I said to him, "You see that hole
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Up near that old treetop
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I've got five dollars there, that's yours, if you refrain to chop
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No beast but me can climb that tree, 'cause it's too slippery
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I can't get up myself, unless my wife is after me
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So get my wife and I'll call her a very naughty word
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And then you'll see me give an imitation of a bird
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You may not know just where to go, when my wife gets around
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But when she comes, remember this, if I'm not on the ground"
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Woodman, Woodman, Spare That Tree!
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| Irving Berlin |
