Falling Leaves (The Refugees)

Words and Music by John Denver
from Higher Ground (1988)


C          G         F       C
Thank you for this precious day
                 G       C
these gifts you give to me
             G       F        C
my heart so full of love for you
                 G      C
sings praise for all I see
    G              F        C
oh sing for every mother's love
    G           F    C
for every childhood tear
    G                 F     C
oh sing for all the stars above
     F       G        C
the peace beyond all fear.

  C      G       F   C
This is for the refugees
             G      C
the ones without a home
           G      F C
a boat out on the ocean 
        G     C
city street alone
      G                 F         C
are they not some dear mother's child
      G       F      C
are they not you and I
     G              F          C
are we the ones to bear this shame
      F        G    C
are they this sacrifice.

   C         G         F       C
Or are they just like falling leaves
              G       C
who give themselves away
              G         F        C
from dust to dust from seed to shear
         G      C
and to another day
   G                 F      C
if I could have one wish on earth
   G      F      C
of all I can conceive
          G          F        C
it'would be to see another spring
      F        G       C
and bless the falling leaves.

C          G         F       C
Thank you for this precious day
                 G       C
these gifts you give to me
             G       F        C
my heart so full of love for you
                 G      C
sings praise for all I see
    G              F        C
oh sing for every mother's love
    G           F    C
for every childhood tear
    G                 F     C
oh sing for all the stars above
     F       G        C
the peace beyond all fear.