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The Trees... political meaning?


jerbils

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Listen to the lyrics. I think that Neil is got some underlying meaning to them, I think it's fairly obvious to see what I mean. It's probably a generic political statement, not necessarily a particular situation. Either that, it's just a happy song about trees. confused13.gif

 

Any thoughts?

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The Trees is clearly more than 'a happy song about trees' as well as being more than 'a comic squabble in a forest' (as I've heard it described.)

 

Similarly, I've heard it described as being a parable about the rise of socialism - the oppressed Maples rise up and throw off the oppressing Oaks until, in the end, they are kept equal by the 'hatchet, axe and saw.' This points to the idea that the downtrodden mass of the proleteriat (excuse spelling there - its early) will throw off the chains of the oppressing aristocracy until all men are equal, I think this is a valid viewpoint and could well be a valid assumption of Neil's intention.

 

However, here's another thought to throw into the mix. The Maple (as everyone knows) is the symbol of Canada while the Oak (for many years) was the symbol of England. Could it not also have a subtext referring to Canada's independence from England?

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I think I remember reading an interview of Neil regarding the meaning behind this song. From what I remember (its been a while since I've read it so please forgive the inaccuracies), he was watching a cartoon of some kind with talking trees. The inspiration stemed from this, and the idea popped in his head "what if trees acted like humans" and wrote the song reflecting that. It wasnt intended to have any underlying political message, just to reflect that thought. Though Neil has a very good ability to write in a way that many interpretations can be reached from it, and this song is definatly no exception.

 

Anyway, welcom to the forum jerbils biggrin.gif bekloppt.gif

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QUOTE (Slaine mac Roth @ Dec 2 2004, 01:45 AM)
The Trees is clearly more than 'a happy song about trees' as well as being more than 'a comic squabble in a forest' (as I've heard it described.)

Similarly, I've heard it described as being a parable about the rise of socialism - the oppressed Maples rise up and throw off the oppressing Oaks until, in the end, they are kept equal by the 'hatchet, axe and saw.' This points to the idea that the downtrodden mass of the proleteriat (excuse spelling there - its early) will throw off the chains of the oppressing aristocracy until all men are equal, I think this is a valid viewpoint and could well be a valid assumption of Neil's intention.

However, here's another thought to throw into the mix. The Maple (as everyone knows) is the symbol of Canada while the Oak (for many years) was the symbol of England. Could it not also have a subtext referring to Canada's independence from England?

Alright... now you're hurting my head with your fancy words. I'll just nod and agree with whatever you just said. confused13.gif

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QUOTE (Slaine mac Roth @ Dec 2 2004, 01:45 AM)
The Trees is clearly more than 'a happy song about trees' as well as being more than 'a comic squabble in a forest' (as I've heard it described.)

Similarly, I've heard it described as being a parable about the rise of socialism - the oppressed Maples rise up and throw off the oppressing Oaks until, in the end, they are kept equal by the 'hatchet, axe and saw.' This points to the idea that the downtrodden mass of the proleteriat (excuse spelling there - its early) will throw off the chains of the oppressing aristocracy until all men are equal, I think this is a valid viewpoint and could well be a valid assumption of Neil's intention.

However, here's another thought to throw into the mix. The Maple (as everyone knows) is the symbol of Canada while the Oak (for many years) was the symbol of England. Could it not also have a subtext referring to Canada's independence from England?

Couldn't resist this....perhaps the song should be re-named "The Ents", eh Slaine?

rofl3.gif

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I always took it as an observation of black folks and white folks relations in America. It's like Neil's comment on understanding why each side from time to time have perfectly understood griveances but instead turn it into a "us against them" attitude on both sides, thereby squashing any possible solutions.
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QUOTE (petsounds75 @ Dec 2 2004, 02:44 AM)
I always took it as an observation of black folks and white folks relations in America. It's like Neil's comment on understanding why each side from time to time have perfectly understood griveances but instead turn it into a "us against them" attitude on both sides, thereby squashing any possible solutions.

THat's what i heard...that the song was about racism

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QUOTE (Moonraker @ Dec 2 2004, 06:50 AM)
I think I remember reading an interview of Neil regarding the meaning behind this song. From what I remember (its been a while since I've read it so please forgive the inaccuracies), he was watching a cartoon of some kind with talking trees. The inspiration stemed from this, and the idea popped in his head "what if trees acted like humans" and wrote the song reflecting that. It wasnt intended to have any underlying political message, just to reflect that thought. Though Neil has a very good ability to write in a way that many interpretations can be reached from it, and this song is definatly no exception.

Anyway, welcom to the forum jerbils biggrin.gif bekloppt.gif

100% correct Moonraker. I got this from the Rush FAQ sheet by Nimitz -

 

70:Is there a message in "The Trees"?

 

"No. It was just a flash. I was working on an entirely different thing when I saw a cartoon picture of these trees carrying on like

fools. I thought, "What if trees acted like people?" So I saw it as a cartoon really, and wrote it that way. I think that's the image

that it conjures up to a listener or a reader. A very simple statement." -- Neil Peart, in the April/May 1980 Modern Drummer

magazine

 

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I'd also add that there is a difference between message and meaning. I've rarely felt that Neil's lyrics are based on a message, but they are rich in meaning. Take 100 Rush fans, ask them to interpret a song, and you'll get 100 different answers.

 

I live close to the border with Northern Ireland, so I've always seen an Irish dimension to The Trees, no doubt someone in the Middle East will see a resonance with the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

 

For that matter, someone in Phoenix, Ariozona (picked because I'm not aware of any members of this forum from there - if there are, apologies) might see a link to a neighbourhood dispute involving noisy neighbours.

 

If, for example, Neil described the song as being about tensions between English and French speakers in Montreal, that would be a message and that would limit it immediately. The fact that he doesn't means that meanings applied form individual perspectives are all valid.

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QUOTE (madra sneachta @ Dec 2 2004, 09:19 AM)
I'd also add that there is a difference between message and meaning. I've rarely felt that Neil's lyrics are based on a message, but they are rich in meaning. Take 100 Rush fans, ask them to interpret a song, and you'll get 100 different answers.

I live close to the border with Northern Ireland, so I've always seen an Irish dimension to The Trees, no doubt someone in the Middle East will see a resonance with the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

For that matter, someone in Phoenix, Ariozona (picked because I'm not aware of any members of this forum from there - if there are, apologies) might see a link to a neighbourhood dispute involving noisy neighbours.

If, for example, Neil described the song as being about tensions between English and French speakers in Montreal, that would be a message and that would limit it immediately. The fact that he doesn't means that meanings applied form individual perspectives are all valid.

Exactly....which is why even if he had some specific meaning in his head when he wrote the lyric, he would be a fool to reveal it. People/critics/fans would just say "oh, it's just a song about...(insert specific event/meaning here.)"

 

It would ruin the song. But you have to have some answer to the question ...so he just said....(I saw some trees on a cartoon...) PLEEZE.

 

 

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Somewhere back in the mists of time I read about a connection between 'The Trees' and a law passed in Canada at the time which made use of a certain percentage of Canadian artistic resources mandatory in all artistic products of Canada...or something like that. Maybe someone else remembers such a thing in more detail. Many reviewers at the time connected the song with this law.

 

It's been signifigant to me that the last image shown when the song is played live is of a forest which has been totally decimated... I've always taken that to be a statement on what happens when society pulls high achievers down to the 'common level' and forces them to conform. Everyone loses eventually.

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Definitely some interesting conversation about this song. I've always thought it was more generically about two types of people not getting along & then getting together to make rules for everyone to be treated the same.

 

It's interesting to see that people from different areas of the world seem to "think" of the two types of people/sides as being related to wehre they live.

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QUOTE (Sweetmiracle @ Dec 2 2004, 01:14 PM)
Somewhere back in the mists of time I read about a connection between 'The Trees' and a law passed in Canada at the time which made use of a certain percentage of Canadian artistic resources mandatory in all artistic products of Canada...or something like that. Maybe someone else remembers such a thing in more detail. Many reviewers at the time connected the song with this law.

It's  been signifigant to me that the last image shown when the song is played live is of a forest which has been totally decimated... I've always taken that to be a statement on what happens when society pulls high achievers down to the 'common level' and forces them to conform.  Everyone loses eventually.

I agree.

 

I think "the trees were all kept equal by hatchet, axe, and saw"

...the error of their ways.

 

But I always took it to be an economic allegory.

Has anyone else read Atlas Shrugged?

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QUOTE (Rolinda Bonz @ Dec 2 2004, 11:04 PM)
QUOTE (Sweetmiracle @ Dec 2 2004, 01:14 PM)
Somewhere back in the mists of time I read about a connection between 'The Trees' and a law passed in Canada at the time which made use of a certain percentage of Canadian artistic resources mandatory in all artistic products of Canada...or something like that. Maybe someone else remembers such a thing in more detail. Many reviewers at the time connected the song with this law.

It's  been signifigant to me that the last image shown when the song is played live is of a forest which has been totally decimated... I've always taken that to be a statement on what happens when society pulls high achievers down to the 'common level' and forces them to conform.  Everyone loses eventually.

I agree.

 

I think "the trees were all kept equal by hatchet, axe, and saw"

...the error of their ways.

 

But I always took it to be an economic allegory.

Has anyone else read Atlas Shrugged?

AS is a fascinating book. Any book with a 60 page philosophy speech must be approached with caution, however!!

 

wink.gif

 

Yeah, I think there's a definite AR influence there....

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