If you knew
What I know
Would you try?
Before your time
Has run on you
And worn you down

Would you know
What you desire
In your heart?

If you knew
What I know
Would you try?

Is there time?
Is there time?
To follow just one desire?

Is there time?
Is there time
To follow your heart?

Dress your wounds
Test your strength
Face the night

Crave the touch
Feel the pain
Know the signs

Is there truth
In your pain?
You decide

If you knew
What I know
Would you try?

Is there time?
Is there time?
To follow just one desire?

Is there time?
Is there time
To follow your heart?

As we lie
In the shade
Of poison trees

Are we as safe
As we let
Ourselves believe?



Lyrics submitted by esoteric-heart

Track duration: 02:58

"The Shade of Poison Trees" as written by Christopher Andrew Carrabba

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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The Shade of Poison Trees song meanings
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35 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:"Is there truth in your pain? you decide." If that lyric has never brought tears to your eyes, you are not human. Or at least, haven't suffered enough yet in a relationship, or life in general. It's only when we realize that life is going nowhere that it begins to make sense. Blessed is he who suffered for he has found life. From the singers viewpoint, he's suffered the same pain as the person he's talking to is going through as of present. He (singer) overcame it. And now he lends a helping hand, "is there truth in your pain? you decide." In general, that's what whole song is about, the singer telling/asking someone (through Socratic method) what it is that matters most to them - Self-Reliance. Helping them to help themselves. Great song to put on a mix cd (to slow pace)for someone you really care about.
    Flag lyrickingon August 11, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:Okay, well I see it as someone with someone they really love who has horrible self esteem. Like they don't believe in themselves or why the other loves them. And he tries to tell her about how important and amazing she is but she doesn't get it.

    "If you knew what I know,
    Would you try before your time has run anew and worn you down?
    Would you know what you deserve in your heart?
    And if you knew what I know, would you try?"

    In a way she's lost faith in life, and is just going through the motions, doesn't think she'll get anywhere. And he is just trying to get through to her about how he feels and he wishes she could see it.

    "Is there time?
    Is there time to follow just one desire?
    Is there time?
    Is there time to follow your heart's?"

    Again, questioning. Self doubt, maybe him doubting himself trying to change her mind while she refuses to believe him or let him help her.

    "Dress your wounds
    Test your strength
    Face the night
    Crave the touch
    Feel the pain
    Know the signs
    Is there truth in your pain?
    You decide."

    He is telling her to stop pitying herself, if it's worth it to have no faith in herself. Asking her to question being depressed or doubtful all the time.

    "As we lie in the shade of poison trees
    Are we as safe as we let ourselves believe?"

    As we live in self doubt so we can never be dissapointed, does it really protect us or are we just hurting ourselves?

    That's just my interpretation >.<
    Flag InsaneButtercupon March 12, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The other side of Dusk and Summer Maybe...? Just putting it out there... I'm not really sure myself...
    Flag Dan-Da-Eskimoon August 26, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:love this song..and touched by its lyrics..
    its like when we go through life, we find ourselves in the middle of everything.. we wanted to do a lot of things, but we don't even know if what we're doing right now is necessary or like if everything is just a lie... But if we knew, despite the "poison trees" in life, would we even try....? and the poison trees represents something that hinders us from doing what we want..yes, we need them in our lives, but they're also poison.. it blinds us.. it keeps us away from our dreams...
    Flag akhrizdessleron March 17, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:hmm it says let in the last line not like
    Flag xdemolionLoverxon February 12, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:ONE LAST THING i forgot to re-mention that the title of the poem is, in fact, "A Poison Tree" :)
    Flag cloudy eyeon February 07, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i had trouble tying it in with the song, so i'm curious to hear what you guys think. related or not?

    and did it make anyone else think of the apple on the cover of the album? verrrry interesting...
    Flag cloudy eyeon February 07, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:somebody mention the william blake poem already? i saw it in english class the other day when i was leafing through my textbook and it really struck me because i thought of this song. but since some of you aren't english nerds like me who read their textbooks for fun here it is:

    I was angry with my friend:
    I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
    I was angry with my foe;
    I told it not, my wrath did grow.

    And I water'd it in fears,
    Night & morning with my tears;
    And I sunned it with my smiles
    And with soft deceitful wiles.

    And it grew both day and night,
    Till it bore an apple bright;
    And my foe beheld it shine,
    And he knew that it was mine,

    And into my garden stole
    When the night had veil'd the pole:
    In the morning glad I see
    My foe outstretch'd beneath the tree
    Flag cloudy eyeon February 07, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This is one of those songs that (obviously) you hear, but feel as well.
    Flag musicismybeachhouseon February 03, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:wow...sorry i didn't proof read that one!!!
    Flag rmerchant3on January 28, 2008   Link

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