The true meaning of song The Trees?

[goose]

I've known for years that the song was supposed to be humorous lyrically. Thought it was pretty obvious since Neil has mentioned it before in interviews. This is the reason I don't hold the song in as high of esteem as many others do. The music is great but the lyrics are just too silly for me.

 

Strange how other silly songs like Dog Years or I Think I'm Going Bald get ripped to bits for their goofy lyrics but somehow The Trees always get a pass. Always found that to be a little odd.

The Trees-- even without some political message-- at least tells a story. Dog Years is just stupid.

^^^ Tail between his ears.

[Lucas]

But hey, the biggest question is...

 

Does anybody here not like Hemispheres?

 

Side two is far better than side one.

That's like debating that Cheryl Ladd was a hotter Angel than Jacqlyn Smith. She might be but you can't lose either way.

Well honestly, it's a stupid comparison but it is what is and whatever. My mind wanders to the 70s sometimes. :P

 

http://www.cherylladd.com/merchadise/yello.jpg

 

And we cannot forget Barbara Carrera

 

[JohnnyBlaze]

But hey, the biggest question is...

 

Does anybody here not like Hemispheres?

 

Side two is far better than side one.

That's like debating that Cheryl Ladd was a hotter Angel than Jacqlyn Smith. She might be but you can't lose either way.

Well honestly, it's a stupid comparison but it is what is and whatever. My mind wanders to the 70s sometimes. :P

 

http://www.cherylladd.com/merchadise/yello.jpg

 

And we cannot forget Barbara Carrera

 

She was a super hot babe though not one of THE Angels. My earliest memory of her was in the cornball Chuck Norris flick Lone Wolf McQuade.

[condemned2bfree]

Essentially I always interpreted the theme of this song, as one of inequality. Neil Peart doesn't have to explain the meaning of songs, that's all for the listener to do.

 

Agree with Lorraine and Lucas, with the Animal farm analogy, Neil Peart is Eric Blair! :) Though he is more likely to be Bertrand Russel.

[condemned2bfree]

But hey, the biggest question is...

 

Does anybody here not like Hemispheres?

 

Side two is far better than side one.

That's like debating that Cheryl Ladd was a hotter Angel than Jacqlyn Smith. She might be but you can't lose either way.

Well honestly, it's a stupid comparison but it is what is and whatever. My mind wanders to the 70s sometimes. :P

 

http://www.cherylladd.com/merchadise/yello.jpg

 

And we cannot forget Barbara Carrera

 

She was a super hot babe though not one of THE Angels. My earliest memory of her was in the cornball Chuck Norris flick Lone Wolf McQuade.

 

Wow, if ever there was a distraction from the original topic, its this. :o

[JohnnyBlaze]

But hey, the biggest question is...

 

Does anybody here not like Hemispheres?

 

Side two is far better than side one.

That's like debating that Cheryl Ladd was a hotter Angel than Jacqlyn Smith. She might be but you can't lose either way.

Well honestly, it's a stupid comparison but it is what is and whatever. My mind wanders to the 70s sometimes. :P

 

http://www.cherylladd.com/merchadise/yello.jpg

 

And we cannot forget Barbara Carrera

 

She was a super hot babe though not one of THE Angels. My earliest memory of her was in the cornball Chuck Norris flick Lone Wolf McQuade.

 

Wow, if ever there was a distraction from the original topic, its this. :o

That's true. I'll steer it back on topic---All those babes gave me wood. Wood is an essential component of trees

[condemned2bfree]

Don't know too much about wood, being more of a bushman myself.

[Lucas]

It was made in the 60s, but The Outer Limits was always run in syndication during my early formative years during the late 70s ..

 

The episode "ZZZZZZZZ" is still etched in my mind .. The Bee Girl was the hottest thing on TV

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FM83fik-lXY/Vn_xa_mP0RI/AAAAAAAAxvw/xnoVVYFIVFY/s1600/JF2.jpg

 

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__P1bz4ZkkRA/TUXdjfKS2yI/AAAAAAAACmM/4DQrHvulSFw/s1600/screen-capture-3.png

Edited December 21, 2016 by Lucas

[Disembodied Spirit]

I've known for years that the song was supposed to be humorous lyrically. Thought it was pretty obvious since Neil has mentioned it before in interviews. This is the reason I don't hold the song in as high of esteem as many others do. The music is great but the lyrics are just too silly for me.

 

Strange how other silly songs like Dog Years or I Think I'm Going Bald get ripped to bits for their goofy lyrics but somehow The Trees always get a pass. Always found that to be a little odd.

The Trees-- even without some political message-- at least tells a story. Dog Years is just stupid.

^^^ THIS^^^EXACTLY

I am convinced The Trees lyrics were written by Neil Peart

I am convinced Dog Years lyrics were written by CC DeVille

[vaportrailer]

But hey, the biggest question is...

 

Does anybody here not like Hemispheres?

 

Side two is far better than side one.

That's like debating that Cheryl Ladd was a hotter Angel than Jacqlyn Smith. She might be but you can't lose either way.

Well honestly, it's a stupid comparison but it is what is and whatever. My mind wanders to the 70s sometimes. :P

 

http://www.cherylladd.com/merchadise/yello.jpg

 

And we cannot forget Barbara Carrera

 

She was a super hot babe though not one of THE Angels. My earliest memory of her was in the cornball Chuck Norris flick Lone Wolf McQuade.

 

Wow, if ever there was a distraction from the original topic, its this. :o

That's true. I'll steer it back on topic---All those babes gave me wood. Wood is an essential component of trees

 

Also, Peart's a bit of a woody writer.

Maybe I meant wordy...

Nope. Woody.

 

http://www.macleans.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/MAC32_INTERVIEW02-wide.jpg

"Gorn, pert, concubine...these words are dear to me."

[vaportrailer]

It was made in the 60s, but The Outer Limits was always run in syndication during my early formative years during the late 70s ..

 

The episode "ZZZZZZZZ" is still etched in my mind .. The Bee Girl was the hottest thing on TV

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FM83fik-lXY/Vn_xa_mP0RI/AAAAAAAAxvw/xnoVVYFIVFY/s1600/JF2.jpg

 

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__P1bz4ZkkRA/TUXdjfKS2yI/AAAAAAAACmM/4DQrHvulSFw/s1600/screen-capture-3.png

 

Astounding!

Outstanding!

Hemispherical!

Hysterical!

 

Reminds me of the dusty old riddle, "What kind of bees give milk?"

:P

 

 

[seiboob/seeb-oob: rewsnA]

[patjnev]

It was made in the 60s, but The Outer Limits was always run in syndication during my early formative years during the late 70s ..

 

The episode "ZZZZZZZZ" is still etched in my mind .. The Bee Girl was the hottest thing on TV

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FM83fik-lXY/Vn_xa_mP0RI/AAAAAAAAxvw/xnoVVYFIVFY/s1600/JF2.jpg

 

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__P1bz4ZkkRA/TUXdjfKS2yI/AAAAAAAACmM/4DQrHvulSFw/s1600/screen-capture-3.png

 

I cant believe this , Just as I was looking at this photo, I looked up at my tv and there is this episode playing, It is on the Comet Channel . A over the air broadcast channel on in Palm Beach Co. Fla . This is too freaky! Channel 12.3. Wow this is blowing my mind! BTW she is damn cute yes.

[catherine]

I believe that Neil has played down the political and allegoric aspect in order to allow the listeners to interpret the song for themselves ..

 

And I do not see Neil as the type who feels he need to explain his meanings ..

 

My take is that "The Maples" represent Quebec, in particular, Parti Québécois ... There was a movement around the time of Hemispheres - this explains it better than I can here:

 

https://en.wikipedia...Parti_Québécois

 

What, is Neil gonna go to great lengths to explain this ?? .. I doubt it ..

 

In any case, I liken The Trees to Orwell's Animal Farm ... I don't think either is silly, to say the least

 

Me too. I also interpreted it as an allegory about totalitarianism like in Animal Farm.

[JohnnyBlaze]

It was made in the 60s, but The Outer Limits was always run in syndication during my early formative years during the late 70s ..

 

The episode "ZZZZZZZZ" is still etched in my mind .. The Bee Girl was the hottest thing on TV

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FM83fik-lXY/Vn_xa_mP0RI/AAAAAAAAxvw/xnoVVYFIVFY/s1600/JF2.jpg

 

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__P1bz4ZkkRA/TUXdjfKS2yI/AAAAAAAACmM/4DQrHvulSFw/s1600/screen-capture-3.png

 

Astounding!

Outstanding!

Hemispherical!

Hysterical!

 

Reminds me of the dusty old riddle, "What kind of bees give milk?"

:P

 

 

[seiboob/seeb-oob: rewsnA]

 

[Thunder Bay Rush]

Stealing a line from EagleMoon, I always thought The Trees was a very clever lyric... and everything rhymes so perfectly, if you like that sort of thing. The last line... "By hatchet, axe and saw." That sums it all up saying if they can't all get along, the human element will force them too. Political, I'd say. Again, very clever. I used to LOVE playing drums to that song... and yes, the middle part is in 5/4. It's a simple count.

[goose]

It was made in the 60s, but The Outer Limits was always run in syndication during my early formative years during the late 70s ..

 

The episode "ZZZZZZZZ" is still etched in my mind .. The Bee Girl was the hottest thing on TV

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FM83fik-lXY/Vn_xa_mP0RI/AAAAAAAAxvw/xnoVVYFIVFY/s1600/JF2.jpg

 

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__P1bz4ZkkRA/TUXdjfKS2yI/AAAAAAAACmM/4DQrHvulSFw/s1600/screen-capture-3.png

 

I cant believe this , Just as I was looking at this photo, I looked up at my tv and there is this episode playing, It is on the Comet Channel . A over the air broadcast channel on in Palm Beach Co. Fla . This is too freaky! Channel 12.3. Wow this is blowing my mind! BTW she is damn cute yes.

Very cool! I love when that stuff happens.

[goose]

It was made in the 60s, but The Outer Limits was always run in syndication during my early formative years during the late 70s ..

 

The episode "ZZZZZZZZ" is still etched in my mind .. The Bee Girl was the hottest thing on TV

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FM83fik-lXY/Vn_xa_mP0RI/AAAAAAAAxvw/xnoVVYFIVFY/s1600/JF2.jpg

 

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__P1bz4ZkkRA/TUXdjfKS2yI/AAAAAAAACmM/4DQrHvulSFw/s1600/screen-capture-3.png

 

Astounding!

Outstanding!

Hemispherical!

Hysterical!

 

Reminds me of the dusty old riddle, "What kind of bees give milk?"

:P

 

 

[seiboob/seeb-oob: rewsnA]

"You need me...like a golfer needs a par..."

 

Oh, bee-HAVE!

[Wil1972]

It was made in the 60s, but The Outer Limits was always run in syndication during my early formative years during the late 70s ..

 

The episode "ZZZZZZZZ" is still etched in my mind .. The Bee Girl was the hottest thing on TV

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FM83fik-lXY/Vn_xa_mP0RI/AAAAAAAAxvw/xnoVVYFIVFY/s1600/JF2.jpg

 

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__P1bz4ZkkRA/TUXdjfKS2yI/AAAAAAAACmM/4DQrHvulSFw/s1600/screen-capture-3.png

 

Astounding!

Outstanding!

Hemispherical!

Hysterical!

 

Reminds me of the dusty old riddle, "What kind of bees give milk?"

:P

 

 

[seiboob/seeb-oob: rewsnA]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDcpexDjvAM&sns=em

"You need me...like a golfer needs a par..."

 

Oh, bee-HAVE!

 

I love the generic Beatle haircuts.

[Geddy Jazz]

I don't really care whether it has a 'real' meaning, a deep meaning. It's one of those that has been construed as overtly political over the years, and maybe it is, maybe not.

 

I just know it's a lot of fun to sing and play along to.

 

 

"The Trees" is the truly one of the best songs to play along to on the drums. Never gets old!!!

 

I wrote a paper in college based on The Trees lyrics. I compared to racism. The oaks are the white man. The maples are the African American. "And they wonder why the maples can't be happy in their shade." I got an A on my paper. Of course I could be completely wrong, but it was a fun paper to write.

The Trees is just too serious musically to be a "joke" song lyrically...I think. :finbar: .the bass ( Ricky crunched) break is unforgettable....every part of the song smokes

[Blue Barchetta]

I've known for years that the song was supposed to be humorous lyrically. Thought it was pretty obvious since Neil has mentioned it before in interviews. This is the reason I don't hold the song in as high of esteem as many others do. The music is great but the lyrics are just too silly for me.

 

Strange how other silly songs like Dog Years or I Think I'm Going Bald get ripped to bits for their goofy lyrics but somehow The Trees always get a pass. Always found that to be a little odd.

The Trees-- even without some political message-- at least tells a story. Dog Years is just stupid.

^^^ THIS^^^EXACTLY

I am convinced The Trees lyrics were written by Neil Peart

I am convinced Dog Years lyrics were written by CC DeVille

C.C.: Hey, man. I'm branching out from that bubblegum pop-metal we write. I wrote a song for Rush, man!

Bret: Rush? Are you kidding?

C.C.: No, man. It's a really deep song...like...comparing people to dogs and stuff. You know, like how one of their years is like seven of ours? Rush geeks will totally think Peart wrote it!

Bret: Don't know, bro...Rush fans are pretty smart.

C.C.: Dude! Remember back in the '70s? They ate that shit about trees UP!

[greg2112]

Labor-managment dispute.

[MMCXII]

I always thought it'd be cool to illustrate these lyrics into a children's fairytale book because that's exactly how they sound to me. Complete with a moral and everything!

 

There is unrest in the forest

There is trouble with the trees

For the maples want more sunlight

And the oaks ignore their pleas

The trouble with the maples

And they're quite convinced they're right

They say the oaks are just too lofty

And they grab up all the light

But the oaks can't help their feelings

If they like the way they're made

And they wonder why the maples

Can't be happy in their shade?

There is trouble in the forest

And the creatures all have fled

As the maples scream 'oppression!'

And the oaks, just shake their heads

So the maples formed a union

And demanded equal rights

'The oaks are just too greedy

We will make them give us light'

Now there's no more oak oppression

For they passed a noble law

And the trees are all kept equal

By hatchet,

Axe,

And Saw

 

[tony990]

I don't know how Geddy sang "Now there's no more oak oppression" with a straight face and straight voice, not even laughing.

[rftag]

I had an English teacher in high school who actually assigned us the lyrics of "The Trees" as a poem to study and interpret and write an essay about.

 

She actually graded us as being more or less correct in our interpretation in accordance to how closely our interpretation mirrored hers, which she revealed after all the papers were turned in.

 

According to her, this was a metaphor for the US civil rights struggle; the Oaks were the whites, and the Maples were the blacks.

 

She offered as conclusive evidence of this the line "they wonder why the maples can't be happy in their shade" (i.e. shade was a reference to skin color).

 

She also asserted that the "noble law" was a reference to the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which she seemed to think had forever ended racism.

 

My personal opinion is that this song is one more inspired by weed than anything else, but to the extent one wants to find a "deep message" in it, it seems to have been intended to impart some sort of libertarian ideological point (Neil was presumably still quite enamored of Ayn Rand at this point).

 

Great song nonetheless.

Edited January 4, 2017 by rftag

[goose]

I don't know how Geddy sang "Now there's no more oak oppression" with a straight face and straight voice, not even laughing.

Getting past the opening lines with a straight face is an accomplishment.

 

Good thing the music is so fantastic.