-
00:00
/
00:00
-
00:00
/
00:00
Rush - The Trees
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 the'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.
"These 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.
"The Trees" is a song by progressive rock band Rush from their 1978 album Hemispheres. While a number of people have inferred a political message in the lyrics of the song, Neil Peart has remarked that the inspiration for penning the song simply came from a humorous comic strip he read which depicted trees arguing like people, and that no political commentary was intended by the lyrics. The song is featured on many of Rush's compilation albums and has been a perennial fan favorite of Rush's live shows. On the live album Exit...Stage Left, the short instrumental Broon's Bane is performed as a short introduction to this song. The song is featured in an episode of King of the Hill titled, "The Witches of East Arlen." In this episode, Bobby Hill acquires tarot cards and joins a coven of warlocks. Richard Cheese and Lounge Against the Machine covered the song for their 2006 Christmas album Silent Nightclub. A vault edition of "The Trees" is a playable song in Rock Band 2.
