Granville Automatic, Kevin Griffin - Treaty Oak Lyrics

There’s a neighborhood on the west side called The Nations. There, in 1783, city founder James Robertson signed a treaty with the native nations, effectively taking their land for American use. It happened under the shade of what became known as the “Treaty Oak”, now at 61st Street and Louisiana Avenue. Natives had recently killed James’ son, Peyton. The tree survived until it was hit by lightning in 1956.

When you are older I will tell you a tale
you sons and daughters who dream beside this sulfur well

The day that Charlotte heard the sound and the light set in the east
the howling of the hounds laying at their feet
beneath the sugar moon when the jasmine is in bloom
close your eyes and hope to die I think you’ll find
they looked a lot like you

These paper houses you wouldn’t want to call them home
if you could see the blood and all the writing
when the lightning split the oak

The day that Charlotte heard the sound and the light set in the east
the howling of the hounds laying at their feet
beneath the sugar moon when the jasmine is in bloom
close your eyes and hope to die I think you’ll find
they looked a lot like you

Coldwater Town their heads hit the ground
no shade around where they lay
at 6100 the days were numbered
like ghosts lost in silver and gray

The day that Charlotte heard the sound and the light set in the east
the howling of the hounds laying by the spring
beneath the sugar moon when the jasmine is in bloom
close your eyes and hope to die I think you’ll find
they looked a lot like you

When you are older I will tell you a tale