Both as a standalone and as part of the DSOTS album, you can take this lyric as read. As a matter of public record, Jourgensen's drug intake was legendary even in the 1980s. By the late 90s, in his own words, he was grappling with massive addiction issues and had lost almost everything: friends, spouse, money and had nearly died more than once. "Dark Side of the Spoon" is a both funny & sad title for an album made by a musical genius who was losing the plot; and this song is a message to his fans & friends saying he knows it. It's painful to listen to so I'm glad the "Keith Richards of industrial metals" wised up and cleaned up. Well done sir.
Fame is but a fruit tree
So very unsound.
It can never flourish
'Till its stock is in the ground.
So men of fame
Can never find a way
'Till time has flown
Far from their dying day.
Forgotten while you're here
Remembered for a while
A much updated ruin
From a much outdated style.
Life is but a memory
Happened long ago.
Theatre full of sadness
For a long forgotten show.
Seems so easy
Just to let it go on by
'Till you stop and wonder
Why you never wondered why.
Safe in the womb
Of an everlasting night
You find the darkness can
Give the brightest light.
Safe in your place deep in the earth
That's when they'll know what you were really worth.
Forgotten while you're here
Remembered for a while
A much updated ruin
From a much outdated style.
Fame is but a fruit tree
So very unsound.
It can never flourish
'Till its stock is in the ground.
So men of fame
Can never find a way
'Till time has flown
Far from their dying day.
Fruit tree, fruit tree
No one knows you but the rain and the air.
Don't you worry
They'll stand and stare when you're gone.
Fruit tree, fruit tree
Open your eyes to another year.
They'll all know
That you were here when you're gone.
So very unsound.
It can never flourish
'Till its stock is in the ground.
So men of fame
Can never find a way
'Till time has flown
Far from their dying day.
Forgotten while you're here
Remembered for a while
A much updated ruin
From a much outdated style.
Life is but a memory
Happened long ago.
Theatre full of sadness
For a long forgotten show.
Seems so easy
Just to let it go on by
'Till you stop and wonder
Why you never wondered why.
Safe in the womb
Of an everlasting night
You find the darkness can
Give the brightest light.
Safe in your place deep in the earth
That's when they'll know what you were really worth.
Forgotten while you're here
Remembered for a while
A much updated ruin
From a much outdated style.
Fame is but a fruit tree
So very unsound.
It can never flourish
'Till its stock is in the ground.
So men of fame
Can never find a way
'Till time has flown
Far from their dying day.
Fruit tree, fruit tree
No one knows you but the rain and the air.
Don't you worry
They'll stand and stare when you're gone.
Fruit tree, fruit tree
Open your eyes to another year.
They'll all know
That you were here when you're gone.
Lyrics submitted by Sweet Blue Way
Fruit Tree Lyrics as written by Nick Drake
Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
totally love this song...it's completly amazing. kind of spooky too...he sort of predicted his own death...weird huh..? the line " Fame is but a fruit tree So very unsound It can never flourish 'till its stalk is in the ground " is about how you never get much publicity until you're dead...sad but true...this line often reminds of the marilyn manson line " the death of one is a tragedy, but the death of one is a tragedy..."
There is a reason Heath Ledger was "obsessed" with Nick Drake. This song goes a long way to explaining the dark outlook on fame that both men had in common.
I've always read the line as "'til its stock is in the ground" - i.e when the fruit that has not sold is plowed back into the earth (to function as fertilizer, effectively). This would be in keeping with the metaphor.
And the way Nick Drake pronounces 'stock' is in keeping with his educated accent: to hear 'stalk' would give him an American lilt.
Anyone agree?
@johnny6666 it's definitely stock. You're right. There's a picture of his handwritten lyrics to this song and he wrote stock.
This song is amazing.
mansons lyric "the death of one is a tragedy but death of a million is just a statistic" is a quote from stalin (ussr arsehole in cheif) i think - correct me if im wrong. i love nick drake - folky, mystical, ambient, absoluetly stunning
one word to describe this song - beautiful.
there is nothing more.
simply beautiful.
I think this is my favourite Nick Drake song - and it's not like it's any easy choice.
Simply beautiful and very meaningful. I love it.
i heard a version by Tom Barman and Guy Van Nueten, is really beautiful.
Its truly amazing scary and magestic... This song doesnt predict anything as preminition or fluke it shows off the intelligence of Nick Drake. He knew what he did was amazing because he loved his music so much and he realised that eventually it will come forward. The irony of the situation is the car commericial is the thing that dug his talents out his grave.
Wouldnt it be funny if the song is just about a fruit tree?
It's about the fear of being forgotten and being invisible in a universe of stars. It's a painful truth to know that people are remembered and treasured moreso after death than in life. Sometimes it takes the absence of something for you to realize it's missing and that you cherished it all that time it was still here. Don't take people for granted because when they're gone you'll finally realize there's a hole in your life. Nick Drake's way with words and painting pictures through imagery are amazing.