Barren Fig Tree

A Delta-blues meditation on the parable of the Barren Fig Tree (Luke 13:6–9). This song gives voice to the tree itself—standing in the vineyard, given time, care, and one last season to change. It is a story of patience and urgency, mercy and responsibility. Blues has always been a place for reckoning, confession, and hope held in tension. This parable belongs there.

Scripture: Luke 13:6–9

⁶Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. ⁷So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’

⁸“‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. ⁹If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

Lyrics

Verse 1
Well, I been standin’ in the vineyard, rooted in the ground
Yeah, I been standin’ in the vineyard, rooted in the ground
Three long years went by, Lord, no fruit nowhere to be found

Verse 2
Master come lookin’, said, “What you doin’ here?”
Yeah, the Master come lookin’, said, “What you doin’ here?”
“Wastin’ good soil, child, year after year”

Verse 3
Axe was leanin’ heavy by the old tree line
Yeah, the axe was leanin’ heavy by the old tree line
Said, “Cut it down now, don’t let it take more time”

Verse 4
Gardener spoke softly, wiped dirt from his hands
Yeah, the gardener spoke softly, wiped dirt from his hands
“Give it one more season, Lord, that’s all I ask and plan”

Verse 5
“I’ll dig around its roots, I’ll break that hardened ground”
Yeah, I’ll dig around its roots, turn that hard ground around
“I’ll pour a little mercy where no life been found”

Verse 6
“If it bears fruit tomorrow, we’ll praise Your name”
Yeah, if it bears fruit tomorrow, we’ll praise Your name
“But if it still stands empty, Lord, cut it all the same”

Verse 7
Time keep on knockin’, don’t knock forevermore
Yeah, time keep on knockin’, don’t knock forevermore
Every breath a question knockin’ at your door

Verse 8
I hear that shovel scrapin’, feel the soil turn loose
Yeah, I hear that shovel scrapin’, feel the soil turn loose
Mercy still is workin’, but the clock ain’t gonna snooze

Outro / Turnaround
Lord, I don’t wanna stand barren in the rain
Yeah, I don’t wanna stand barren in the rain
Dig around my roots, Lord—let my livin’ change

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