The Smashing Pumpkins – The Crying Tree of Mercury

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This is the song I've been singing my whole life
I've been waiting like a knife
To cut open your heart
And bleed my soul to you
I did it all for you
You and you and you and you
This is the sound I've been making my whole life
I've been waiting for this night
To clear up all the talk
Althought I'm selfish to a fault
Is it selfish it's you I want
You I did it all for you
This love will stand as long as you
There's really no excuse
I did it all for you
These are the tears I've been crying my whole life
Like an ocean of desire
I'm reaching thru the noise
Across the dusk of time
Within the lilting lies
I am singing out to you

Send "The Crying Tree of Mercury" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by rockstar001, edited by Mellow_Harsher

Track duration: 03:44


The Crying Tree of Mercury song meanings
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11 Comments

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  • +2
    My Interpretation:This song is awesome to me, and has a great deal of profound intellectual depth. My interpretation of it is a powerful message in the illusion of unseen metals in crude oil by-products having a spiritual voice. The tree is a metaphor to describing the living organisms, (including people) worldwide, affected by these metals. Living organisms are the branches of this tree, and Mercury is singing to us about the destructive nature of what is happening to us. The saddest irony is that the branches are not capable of hearing the message through the "Noise" that surrounds them. "Within the lilting lies" describes the corrupted nature of deceptive practices with which we've been intoxicated by heavy metals. "This love will stand as long as you" says to me that Mercury, apologetically, intends to kill us. Psychotic! Yes, but after all, it's not really Mercury's fault that our entire planet is dying from the pollutions of this tree, is it? Mercury has no power over its own effects on us when we continue to abuse its substance. Mercury would like it if we could understand the message, and change our ways. Death is merely the natural outcome of the continued abuse of a substance's properties. It's merely to the extent, when we unintentionally make machines our God, that their pollutions have the power to subjugate us to our own demise.

    The voice is very seductive, and the the music is eerily tranquil much like a rhapsody from the present day automotive industry. After analyzing this song I don't really hate Mercury as much as I thought I might. What I love most about this song is that every verse gives insight and dimension to my interpretation of it. This sounds to me like the true message from God.
    Flag crazylaneron February 17, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:beautiful...
    Flag songbirdsweetsourjaneon February 15, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:just wow, wow and nothing more, it's billy explaining the feeling of greed for a person, just, wow...
    Flag Infraon April 05, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:Althought I'm selfish to a fault
    Is it selfish it's you I want

    I understand this line to a point that i remember old relationships. very sad but also so very true. Is it selfish to want a person for yourself and no one else. I think we all have felt this in our lifetime.
    Flag Rocketdustf40on December 21, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:glass holds June wondering if this is the end, who knows but this is one of the best from the smashing pumpkins
    Flag NuRGon July 19, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This seems to be a scream from Billy's subconscious that comes up every so often. The title is very obscure and poetic. It seems to be like a poem that he wrote really late at night, when he was flooded with emotion and confused and frustrated with a few different things in his life.
    Flag Dead Smileyon June 06, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is..perfect. It's perfect. To me it's the idea of trying so hard, and doing everything for someone who doesn't give back for it. Of wanting so badly to be understood and just hurting so much it kills you.
    Flag I_hate_user_nameson March 05, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:One of my favorite Pumpkins songs. So full of emotion.

    'These are the tears I've been crying my whole life'
    'I am singing out to you'

    very strong lyrics.
    Flag Bowieon October 12, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:To me it sounds like the singer is saying he loves his girl despite her faults...that she's the one for him and he's trying to show that but she's not "cooperating"
    Flag y2doggyon August 03, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This has got to be the most depressing sounding song ever. No matter what, you put this on and hear just the opening notes - and your mood is deflated. Not that I'm complaning. I think this is Billy's way of saying he's given more of himself than anyone could ever know. And he's still crying.
    Flag DeathRockBoyon June 13, 2002   Link

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