Oh, say goodbye to the little girl tree
Oh, you know that I must say goodbye
To the little girl tree
This wall I built around you
Is made out of stone lies
Oh, little girl the truth would be
An axe in thee
Father look to your daughter
A brick of grief and stricken mortar
With this ring
This silver hoop of wire
I bind your maiden mainstem
Just to keep you as a child

Oh, say goodbye to the little girl tree
Yes, you know that I must say goodbye
To my little girl tree
How fast your candy bones
Reached out for me
I must say goodbye to your brittle bones
Crying out for me
Oh, you know that I must say goodbye
Oh, goodbye
Even though you will betray me
The very minute that I leave

Oh, say goodbye to the little girl tree
Oh Lord, you know that I must say goodbye
To that little girl tree
I rise up her girl-child lumps and slipping knots
Into your laden boughs
And amongst her roping limbs
Like a swollen neck vein branching
Into lesser, smaller veins
That must all just sing and say goodbye
And let her blossom veils fly
Her velvet gown
Down, down, down
Down, down, down
Down, down, down
Down, down, down
Down, down, down
Down, down, down
Down, down, down
Down, down, down
Down and goodbye
For you know that I must say goodbye

To a rhythm softly tortured
Of a motion back and forth
That's a rhythm sweetly tortured
Oh, that's the rhythm of the orchard
And you know that I must say goodbye
To the little girl tree
Oh, goodbye
Yeah, goodbye
For you know that I must die
Down, down, down
Down, down, down
Down, down, down
Down, down, down
Down, down, down
Down, down, down and goodbye
For you know that I must die
Yes, you know that I must die
Oh, you know that I must die
Lord, you know that I must die

Copyright: Mute Song Limited
Writer(s): Mick Harvey, Nick Cave