From the drop of blood, to bones and body parts
To vital organs, forming your brain and tiny heart
The fetus, date of birth; until puberty finally starts
Adolescence, adult, then your elderly body rots
It was divine decree that begun the plan
But is diseased by the greed of the sons of man
Don't try to leave with the guns in hand
Understand: God's the one in command

Did we climb out of the sea?
Where did we come from, you and me?
Two legs to walk, and as you see
I'm not a man I want to be
People growing, my backyard (I'm growing in your backyard)
In my garden, in my heart (I'm in your garden, I'm in your heart)
Pink and purple, red and blue (See all the colors?)
On this sunny afternoon (It's a sunny afternoon)

Back before time was time and space was space
The ever-present eye divine so laced with grace
Decided it was time to try to chase, to chase
But what it would design, now life is taking place
Within itself, divided; now it takes some space
And it can't be found alive, the mind creates the state
Of ego, now what's mine is mine
OK, now hate will reign until the blind have eyes and lay awake in wait

How are the seeds in the ground?
How is my garden growing now?
A tender kiss, a little smile
The way a mother holds its child
Tasty little human beings (Tasty little human beings)
I grow them on the people tree (I grow them on the people tree)
I will eat them one by one (Eat them one by one)
If there's enough for everyone (Like you and you)

Born in the ever-flowing life beyond the dirt
Tell me what the purpose is for creating the earth
(Maybe we created the planet as man's habitat
Be fruitful and multiply across the planet's back)
Well, why does hate exist?
The war and AIDS and shit?
If we're to be fruitful, why can't poor people pay they rent?
('Cause love and hate, both sides are conjoined
Physical forms have to deal with both sides of the coin)
Why do we die? (So you can live!)
Why do we strive? (So you can win!
But why did you defy every truthful word I recommend?)
My question back, why do you recommend an ode temptationing
(So I can test your patience and tolerance in the face of sin)
But why attest when you hold all the answers to the state we in?
(For you to bear witness of imperfections of mortal men)
So it's a lesson? (And a blessing
Journey back to where you been
'Cause before the tree can flourish seeds must first be planted in)

People growing, my backyard (I'm growing in my backyard)
In my garden, in my heart (I'm in your garden, I'm in your heart)
If you like my garden, you might like me (Look at all the colors!)
Underneath the people tree


Lyrics submitted by jjjonatron

The People Tree Lyrics as written by Albert Johnson Sam Spiegel

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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The People Tree song meanings
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4 Comments

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  • 0
    My Interpretation

    God I love David Byrne. And Z-Trip is so fucking authoritative as Mr. God-tree (see the video). Actually seems to be a theme of reverence for God across the song. It's a defence, even. i.e. "Don't come questioning your Maker when you're the real problem." Fun Fact: The voice that the song fades out on ("I'm not who you thought I was") is a crazy, ghetto-tastic public-access TV preacher from LA in the 90's: "The Spirit of Truth" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Spirit_of_Truth

    Qwerty0on March 20, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Did you get these from the liner notes? I don't have them, but at the end, "'Cause before the tree can flourish seeds must first be planted in," makes WAY more sense.

    RyGuy86on April 17, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Whoa! These lyrics are wrong by a mile!

    Examples: /You'll feed to escape the birth/The Fetus, date of birth/ /Adolescence, so don't, then your elderly body rocks/Adolescence, adult, then your elderly body rots/ /But this disease be decreed by the sons of man/But is diseased by the greed of the sons of man/

    coreyfroon November 25, 2009   Link
  • 0
    Lyric Correction

    Labels of the guys rapping is off: Gift of Gab and Chali 2na are the lead vocals, with Byrne taking the chorus-like part. Chali 2na has the deeper voice, and Gift of Gab is the guy with the faster flow.

    The sections should be: Chali 2na, David Byrne, Gift of Gab, David Byrne, Gift of Gab and Chali 2na going back and forth (questions and answers, respectively), and lastly David Byrne. The backup on Byrne's sections is Chali 2na, as well.

    zaphenathon December 03, 2010   Link

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