Intro: A D A E F#m 

           A 
There is a tree, flowers in spring. 
             F#m              A 
White cherry buds, twenty-two rings. 
             F#m                  A 
I helped her grow, but have never seen 
         E             F#m 
Carolina winter or Aberdeen. 

                    A 
From the Missisippi floodgates my body churned. 
             F#m             A 
Up the river delta my mother yearned 
             F#m              A 
to taste the sweetness of her pain 
        E                F#m 
fallin' down in Carolina rain. 

         D                A 
And if I stay I'll stay today. 
            F#m             A 
My body has followed in her wake. 
          D            A 
If I'm to go, I'll go away 
       E                   F#m 
to Aberdeen and there I'll wait. 

E F#m 

                   A 
She stayed by the sea hardened town. 
         F#m           A 
Smell of fish watered down, 
         F#m           A 
Taste of liquor on her mouth, 
                 E                    F#m 
and her heart it wandered down to the south. 

         D                A 
And if I stay I'll stay today. 
            F#m             A 
My body has followed in her wake. 
          D            A 
If I'm to go, I'll go away 
       E                   F#m 
to Aberdeen and there I'll wait. 

A F#m A F#m A E F#m 

            A 
Her body is now hard from the years. 
               F#m               A 
She's still as strong, still as fierce. 
           F#m             A 
I've taken all she had to give 
          E                F#m 
and given back the will to live. 

         D                A 
And if I stay I'll stay today. 
            F#m             A 
My body has followed in her wake. 
          D            A 
If I'm to go, I'll go away 
       E                   F#m 
to Aberdeen and there I'll wait. 

       E                  F#m 
To Aberdeen and there I'll wait 
       E                  F#m 
To Aberdeen and there I'll wait 

E F#m