Belly (US) – Feed the Tree

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Send "Feed the Tree" Ringtone to Cell

This old man I've talked about
Broke his own heart, poured it in the ground
Big red tree grew up and out
Throw up its leaves, spins round and round

I know all this and more

So take your hat off when you're talking to me
And be there when I feed the tree

This little squirrel I used to be
Slammed her bike down the stairs
They put silver where her teeth had been
Baby silvertooth, she grins and grins

I know all this and more

So take your hat off, boy, when you're talking to me
And be there when I feed the tree
Take your hat off, boy, when you're talking to me
And be there when I feed the tree

This old man I used to be
Spins around, around, around a tree
Silver baby, come to me
I'll only hurt you in my dreams

I know all this and
I know all this and
I know all this and more

So take your hat off, boy, when you're talking to me
And be there when I feed the tree
Take your hat off when you're talking to me
And be there when I feed the tree

Send "Feed the Tree" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by spliphstar


Feed the Tree song meanings
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22 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:“A metaphor for commitment and respect” according to Tanya Donnelly in interviews, apparently. (Courtesy of Tom Robinson on BBC6 music this evening).
    Flag losttangoon May 25, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I believe the artist is trying to clue us in on some important health information in where it says "...They put silver where her teeth had been
    Baby silvertooth, she grins and grins"

    take a look whale.to/d/…

    and horrible regrets (over toxic dental work in children) when it says "Silver baby, come to me
    I'll only hurt you in my dreams"
    Flag prismspecton April 11, 2013   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:In my day where I came from, to "feed the tree" meant to use the toilet.
    Flag Fredashayon March 16, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think I read once that "feeding the tree" was a Southern US expression for being buried. Graves were often located near trees, and as a body decomposes, it could literally provide nutrients for the tree. The expression is similar to "pushing up daisies."
    Flag ragnar704on July 15, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Tanya is a great songwriter.
    Flag redshiftdazzleron December 11, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:No one deals with the "silver baby come to me (if it is the narrator, she would be talking to herself), I'll only hurt you in my dreams.". Death hurts, jack. If you've not seen it up close and personal, your time is coming. I like the singer's voice and the music, but there is something evil about that line. I thought it is about a child molester...."old man", "broken heart" (badly functioning conscience?), wants to hurt a child in his dreams? There is more to the real meaning than the performer is letting on.

    Further, the old man is not the little girl."This old man I've talked about.....". Later it says "old man I used to be....". It is inconsistent without some over-arching theme, such as there was an old man, you were like him and now are not. The old man is calling the little girl and says "I'll only hurt you in MY dreams", not "your dreams". So it is NOT about a kid being afraid of death. Clearly the old man is saying he thinks about hurting her in his dreams.

    In general, I find that song lyrics often do not fit what the authors claim they mean. Often, they attribute some amazing meaning behind pathetically weak lyrics. There is something dark about this song, she may not feel comfortable relating.
    Flag kenfo00on October 28, 2011   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:I know Tanya's confirmed the death thing which makes it kind of official. However, I much prefer to interpret feed the tree as giving birth. Be there when I give birth, feeding the family tree. The tree of life. 'Being there' is everything.
    Flag yangtzeon March 04, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I love this song - I love the energy I feel from the music and the imagery I get from the lyrics. I always wondered what it was about - my husband thought about death from 'feed the tree.' I thought respect and commitment - 'take your hat off...and be there....." I thought too about personal growth or reincarnation - with 'this old man I used to be... For me the song is magical - I think genius too - there are so many ways to interpret it -
    Flag shelsanon September 07, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Death, but also rebirth! Notice that the speaker mentions that the old man was someone she used to be, before she was the "squirrel" Baby Silvertooth. Lovely song referencing reincarnation.
    Flag Tuckeron January 28, 2010   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • 0
    General Comment:Tanya D said in an interview that "feed the tree" is an euphemism for being dead.
    Flag brokentelephone78on September 08, 2009   Link

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