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The Trees


danielmclark
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Hey, I didn't say it. Gladstone did. He's the one that picked Tull to represent prog rock on his list of 5 artists that are being cheated out of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

 

QUOTE
Already, the haters are groaning, but, quite simply, there has never been another band that sounds anything like Tull, and through their long career, Tull has put forth several utterly flawless albums like Aqualung, Thick as a Brick and Songs from the Wood. Also, unlike some bands that compose functionally retarded forest metaphors, Tull's lyrics were always really strong, whether dissecting organized religion in a song like "Hymn 43" or painting a vignette of the Beat Generation.
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QUOTE (danielmclark @ Mar 30 2012, 06:15 PM)
Hey, I didn't say it. Gladstone did. He's the one that picked Tull to represent prog rock on his list of 5 artists that are being cheated out of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

QUOTE
Already, the haters are groaning, but, quite simply, there has never been another band that sounds anything like Tull, and through their long career, Tull has put forth several utterly flawless albums like Aqualung, Thick as a Brick and Songs from the Wood. Also, unlike some bands that compose functionally retarded forest metaphors, Tull's lyrics were always really strong, whether dissecting organized religion in a song like "Hymn 43" or painting a vignette of the Beat Generation.

For Gladstone, not you!

 

http://www.techinasia.com/techinasia/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/douchebag.jpeg

 

sarcasm.gif

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QUOTE (danielmclark @ Mar 30 2012, 08:15 PM)
Hey, I didn't say it. Gladstone did. He's the one that picked Tull to represent prog rock on his list of 5 artists that are being cheated out of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

QUOTE
Already, the haters are groaning, but, quite simply, there has never been another band that sounds anything like Tull, and through their long career, Tull has put forth several utterly flawless albums like Aqualung, Thick as a Brick and Songs from the Wood. Also, unlike some bands that compose functionally retarded forest metaphors, Tull's lyrics were always really strong, whether dissecting organized religion in a song like "Hymn 43" or painting a vignette of the Beat Generation.

The Trees is one of the best Indications of a Progressive song and the Lyrics' personification of trees is just brilliant!

 

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QUOTE (ReRushed @ Mar 30 2012, 10:53 PM)
QUOTE (losingit2k @ Mar 30 2012, 11:50 PM)
QUOTE (ReRushed @ Mar 30 2012, 10:49 PM)
Lyrics are overrated.

You're Overrated!

 

angry.gif

I'm flattered!

 

I simply think melody trumps lyrics.

It has specially personal meaning to me, so I bark when anyone disrespects it!

 

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QUOTE (ReRushed @ Mar 30 2012, 10:53 PM)
QUOTE (losingit2k @ Mar 30 2012, 11:50 PM)
QUOTE (ReRushed @ Mar 30 2012, 10:49 PM)
Lyrics are overrated.

You're Overrated!

 

angry.gif

I'm flattered!

 

I simply think melody trumps lyrics.

The Trees is proof of that. It is a horrible metaphor. The song kicks ass, though, because of the music.

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Way back in the dark ages when I was in high school my English teacher had everyone present a poem to the class. One guy used The Trees. It got more discussion that any other poem.

 

Neil Peart has said that it was not any great achievement and that he wrote it quickly. Maybe it wasn't the best set of lyrics he ever wrote, but it was a rare moment when he managed to write an almost universally accepted and understood song. Heck, even girls in my high school liked it when Rush was the biggest nerd-boy-only band out there.

 

It's just too bad that that Mercury Records never knew how to market Rush very well. It could have been a massive hit.

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QUOTE (HowItIs @ Mar 30 2012, 08:40 PM)
QUOTE (danielmclark @ Mar 30 2012, 06:15 PM)
Hey, I didn't say it. Gladstone did. He's the one that picked Tull to represent prog rock on his list of 5 artists that are being cheated out of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

QUOTE
Already, the haters are groaning, but, quite simply, there has never been another band that sounds anything like Tull, and through their long career, Tull has put forth several utterly flawless albums like Aqualung, Thick as a Brick and Songs from the Wood. Also, unlike some bands that compose functionally retarded forest metaphors, Tull's lyrics were always really strong, whether dissecting organized religion in a song like "Hymn 43" or painting a vignette of the Beat Generation.

For Gladstone, not you!

 

http://www.techinasia.com/techinasia/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/douchebag.jpeg

 

sarcasm.gif

new_thumbsupsmileyanim.gif

 

funny AND true!

 

and the lyrics to the trees rock! yes.gif 1022.gif 2.gif

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QUOTE (drbirdsong @ Mar 31 2012, 01:22 AM)
Way back in the dark ages when I was in high school my English teacher had everyone present a poem to the class. One guy used The Trees. It got more discussion that any other poem.

Neil Peart has said that it was not any great achievement and that he wrote it quickly. Maybe it wasn't the best set of lyrics he ever wrote, but it was a rare moment when he managed to write an almost universally accepted and understood song. Heck, even girls in my high school liked it when Rush was the biggest nerd-boy-only band out there.

It's just too bad that that Mercury Records never knew how to market Rush very well. It could have been a massive hit.

This totally reminded me: in the early 90s, my brother had a junior highschool assignment where he had to write and present his own piece of poetry. I think he didn't quite feel like coming up with something, so he copied down 'The Trees' and passed it off as his. If I remember correctly, he got a really mark on it, but geez, can you imagine if the teacher had been a Rush fan? (Or maybe that's why he got a good mark...!)

 

When I was younger, 'The Trees' was one of the most accessible songs to me. Great music, and easy to understand lyrical concept. What kid doesn't have fun with imagining trees squabbling amongst themselves? Yes, the message is rather more blatant than Rush's usual lyrics, and some people might prefer having to dissect the lyrics more to get enjoyment, but it's a great song with its simplicity and more complex music.

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"The Trees" was the song that hooked me on Rush. A song that had something to say.

 

That ending, "And the Trees are all kept equal - By Hatchet, Axe and saw" was the biggest twist shock ending since finding out that "To Serve Man" was actually a cook book and the Planet of the Apes was Earth all along.

 

One of Rush's most fantastic songs musically and lyrically.

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QUOTE (Geddyleegenes @ Mar 31 2012, 05:28 AM)
One of Rush's most fantastic songs musically and lyrically.

Agreed.

 

I love the lyrics AND the music. A true classic.

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The song is a true Rush classic. Great intro (especially with 'Broon's Bane') - powerful heavy chords - quirky bass - lovely bridge part with moody Moog melody - fine guitar solo - and, of course, the lyrics tell a great little story.

I love it.

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QUOTE (drbirdsong @ Mar 31 2012, 01:22 AM)
It wasn't the best set of lyrics he ever wrote...it was a rare moment when he managed to write an almost universally mocked song.

This is more like what those outside RUSH fandom think of the song, from what I've heard.

 

The fact that it is so easily understood by middle- and high school students says something about the quality.

 

Music still rocks, of course.

Edited by goose
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I have to wonder about anybody who would interpret the lyrics of The Trees as any sort of serious philosophical or political statement...I mean, lighten up. It's always been pure escapism to me. 50% of it is instrumental anyway.
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QUOTE (Silas Lang @ Mar 31 2012, 09:08 PM)
I have to wonder about anybody who would interpret the lyrics of The Trees as any sort of serious philosophical or political statement...I mean, lighten up. It's always been pure escapism to me. 50% of it is instrumental anyway.

goodpost.gif

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QUOTE (Silas Lang @ Mar 31 2012, 08:08 PM)
I have to wonder about anybody who would interpret the lyrics of The Trees as any sort of serious philosophical or political statement...I mean, lighten up. It's always been pure escapism to me. 50% of it is instrumental anyway.

Well, I'm one of those people who think it's a damning indictment of socialism. Lyrically, it has some of the themes of 2112 (though obviously it's much more concise), where excellence and achievement are punished or feared, and uniformity is cherished.

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QUOTE (laughedatbytime @ Mar 31 2012, 09:41 PM)

Well, I'm one of those people who think it's a damning indictment of socialism.

I think it's pretty clear that this is the point Neil is making. Demand equality, and you may get your wish. Everyone will be relegated to the lowest deniminator.

 

The kid movie "The Incredibles" has the same message embeded in it, although with somewhat more subtlety than Neil.

 

 

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QUOTE (Union 5-3992 @ Mar 31 2012, 10:42 PM)
Another of Neil's Rand inspired songs. Other than The Trees & 2112, what other songs have lyrics inspired by her novels?

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The song is very well written both lyrically and musically. The fact that you take anything spouted by anyone associated with Rolling Stone/RRHoF as truth without verification tells me a lot about you as a person. Edited by USB Connector
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QUOTE (USB Connector @ Apr 1 2012, 10:47 AM)
The song is very well written both lyrically and musically. The fact that you take anything spouted by anyone associated with Rolling Stone/RRHoF as truth without verification tells me a lot about you as a person.

Who are you talking to here?

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