tend the garden

[Verse 1] I was young, it was the '60s, you see I never wanted to be the chief of anything So it was singing in the church for me Behind the organ was as close as I'd ever be There was a woman that I knew before She was in Auckland, she was spoken for My hair was short, my skin was brown I did construction work from town to town There were things we did and should not have done Been half a century since I seen my sons [Chorus] Lord knows if they would ever forgive me I won't forgive myself, at least There are strange forces in the air only time can unleash In a way I still believe [Verse 2] I fell in love, it was the '90s, you see I met a woman across the Tasman in '83 And we settled down and raised a couple kids But I couldn't bring myself to tell 'em what I did I hope that one day if they find my sons They'll tell 'em everything that I've become And I will hold it 'til my dying breath When I tend the garden, I will think of them But my youngest kid, he can't shut his mouth I guess it won't be long 'til the truth is out [Chorus] Lord knows if they would ever forgive me I don't forgive myself, at least There are strange forces in the air only time can release In a way I still believe [Spoken Interlude] You know, with your dad He had his reasons You know, to, to leave the island Go to New Zealand, to go to Australia [Verse 3] In the instance of pain I look straight down at the iris If the irises fade I spend days out in the yard In the absence of rain I take a seat down at the organ And I play Lord, I play Ah