I've been a fan of Carbon Leaf for a long time. The lyrics to Block of Wood on the re-release album Love Loss Hope Repeat Reneaux are so much more than the original song, yet I can't find them on the Internet anywhere. So this is my attempt to decipher them. I'm missing two places and will try to fill them in as I can.
Block of Wood
Carbon LeafGrab your heart we need to leave
There's no time to cry or grieve
for the fallen family treeRise above the flooding plain
Crouch low to duck the flame
Generations against the grain
Up in smoke, down the drainNarrow pass and gaining speed
A judgment lapse is all we need
to make the treachery completeFire from the mountainside
Floods below not far behind
...for a swim
Best to let the water inIf the fire if the flood
burns the tree and thins the blood
if your tears don't wanna dry
I can help you cry
through the night
through the night and day
I can't take the pain away
But I can help you cryReturning .. close to home
learning all there is to know
about reaping what you sowSOS in dot and dash
morse code to fire and ash
what we have will have to do
to work the ground and start anewCut the branch from this tree
carve a place for you and me
a wooden seat that we can string
from a branch where we can swingJust take this block of wood
carve it down and sand it good
when finished it will be
a souvenir of the family treeIf the fire if the flood
burns the tree and thins the blood
if your tears don't wanna dry
I can help you cry
through the night
through the night and day
I can't take the pain away
But I can help you cry
through the night
through the night and day
I can't take the pain away
But I can try but
God help me please
Come save the family tree
My friends have broke them off
when falling off the wallIn the ash I found an ember
something warm to help remember
the block of wood that used to be
a strong tall family tree
a strong tall family tree
blowing in the breezeCry through the night
through the night and day
Thanks so much for this. Having also been a CL fan for a long time, this extended version was eye-opening. While I also haven't been able to figure out what he says in the 4 line after flooding, but I think after the first chorus he's saying "returning prodigals to home". Hope that helps!