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"The Trees" by RUSH Anyone familiar with the song THE TREES from Rush's HEMISPHERES album?(1978)
Well I heard the song initially back in 1991. I was about 11 yrs old and I had just become a Rush fan. Fastforward about 14 yrs to 2005. I'm 25 yrs old now and I'm just now realizing what this song is about. PREJUDICE. I think the way they describe prejudice using trees is SO unique. I never had a clue way back in 1991 that they were talking about prejudice. Check out the lyrics... 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 | |
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(bump) | |
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wow....so you were like 4 years old when I was rocking out at some of their best shows on the Grace Under Pressure tour and Power Windows.....makin' me feel old man...thanks! | |
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never noticed. | |
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pkidwell said: wow....so you were like 4 years old when I was rocking out at some of their best shows on the Grace Under Pressure tour and Power Windows.....makin' me feel old man...thanks!
I was born in 1980..so yea..LOL! | |
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I've never heard the song, but looking at the lyrics it strikes me as more of an anti-socialism song.
The key line being: For they passed a noble law And the trees are all kept equal By hatchet, axe, and saw So basically any Trees who are taller or grander than others are diminished, kept to a level of mediocrity since it's 'unjust' that they should enjoy more sunlight than the other trees. I think this interpretation makes sense, since I've often heard that Neil Peart was a follower of Ayn Rand, who was (among many other things) a strong free-marketer. [Edited 4/3/06 9:16am] | |
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