There is unrest in the forest
There is trouble with the trees
For the maples want more sunlight
And the oaks ignore their pleas

The trouble with the maples
And they're quite convinced they're right
They say the oaks are just too lofty
And they grab up all the light
But the oaks can't help their feelings
If they like the way they're made
And they wonder why the maples
Can't be happy in their shade

There is trouble in the forest
And the creatures all have fled
As the maples scream, "Oppression"
And the oaks just shake their heads

So the maples formed a union
And demanded equal rights
"The oaks are just too greedy
We will make them give us light"
Now there's no more oak oppression
For they passed a noble law
And the trees are all kept equal
By hatchet, axe, and saw


Lyrics submitted by crackermcnacca, edited by Ronyklee

The Trees Lyrics as written by Neil Elwood Peart Geddy Lee Weinrib

Lyrics © Anthem Entertainment

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The Trees song meanings
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  • +2
    General Comment

    Samoan’s got it better than most people. But still off a bit from what I think. Specifically, the part he refers to as how death awaits. Before I sat and read the lyrics, the death idea was what I thought. For me, the lines "For they passed a noble law/And the trees are all kept equal/By hatchet, /Axe, /and saw." does not show death as a natural equalizer, as shown by the first line shown (noble law). The only way to make things equal is to cut the best (the oaks here) down to the level of the others. You can only raise people up so far. And yet, this is what is happening in America these days - cutting down the superior via standardized testing, race-specific scholarships/grants (none specific to whites, though) from places like LULAC and NAACP.

    About the whole song: His sarcastic portrayal of the maples: "the Maples scream Oppression! " and the "noble" law, and "And they're quite convinced they're right" as pertaining to the maples, not the oaks. I found that you really need to read the lyrics to get the sarcasm, picking up lyrics from his singing leads one to think he takes the position that most every other popular musician of the time. It really is a refreshing change compared to everyone else on the "maple's" side.

    Man, that's long.

    hargalatenon March 22, 2003   Link

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