Shadows and Tall Trees was a staple of the band's live shows between 1978 and mid-1980, and the specific dates of thirteen performances are known. It has not been performed live since July 1980, and it was the only song from Boy that was not performed on the album's promotional tour.
The song pays tribute to William Golding's "Lord of the Flies", which contains a chapter called "Shadows and Tall Trees"
Shadows And Tall Trees
U2 Lyrics
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I talk to myself about tomorrow night
Walls of white protest
The gravestone in name
Who is it now?
It's always the same
Who is it now?
Are the leaves on the trees
Just living disguise?
I walk street rain tragicomedy
I'll walk home again
To the street melody
But I know, oh no
But I know, oh no
But I know
Shadows and tall trees
Shadows and tall trees
Shadows and tall trees
Shadows and tall trees
Life through a window
Discolored pain
Misses Brown's washing is always the same
I walk street rain tragicomedy
I'll walk home again
To the street melody
But I know, oh no
But I know, oh no
But I know
(Out there)
Do you feel in me
Anything redeeming
Any worthwhile feeling
Is love like a tightrope
Hanging from the ceiling
But I know, oh no
But I know, oh no
But I know
Shadows and tall trees
Shadows and tall trees
Shadows and tall trees
Shadows and tall trees
Shadows, shadows, shadows
Shadows, shadows, shadows
Shadows and tall trees
Shadows and tall trees
Shadows, shadows, shadows
Shadows, shadows, shadows
Shadows and tall trees
Shadows and tall trees
The lyrics of U2's "Shadows and Tall Trees" explore the complexities of life and the struggle to find meaning and purpose in it. The first stanza speaks of returning to the cold, restless streets at night and the internal monologue that takes place while walking through them. The walls of white protest and gravestone in name are symbols of the challenges and barriers that one must face in life. Who is it now? is a question that seeks answers to the mystery of existence and questions the cyclical nature of overcoming obstacles.
The chorus of the song speaks about shadows and tall trees, a representation of the uncertainties and fears that may be looming over a person's life. Life can feel like a tragicomedy where one is constantly walking the same path, but the street melody offers some form of comfort in the mundane.
In the third stanza, the lyrics take a turn to the external environment, looking out of the window, to Miss Brown's washing, which is always the same. This offers a stark comparison to the complexities of the internal world that may not always have a sense of stability or predictability. The fourth and final stanza asks provocative questions about love and redeeming qualities that may lie within our own selves.
Overall, "Shadows and Tall Trees" tells a story about the internal struggle to find meaning in the face of the uncertainties of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Back to the cold restless streets at night
Returning to the dark, still streets at night filled with unrest and unease.
I talk to myself about tomorrow night
I speak to myself of the thoughts and worries I have for tomorrow night.
Walls of white protest
Walls covered in white paint as a form of protest.
The gravestone in name
The only thing left that remains of a person is a gravestone engrained with their name.
Who is it now?
Who is bothering me now?
It's always the same
It seems that the source of my troubles is always the same.
Who calls me inside?
Who beckons me to come inside?
Are the leaves on the trees Just living disguise?
Could the leaves on the trees be masking something alive?
I walk street rain tragicomedy
I make my way through the streets, rain acting as a tragic form of comedy.
To the street melody
Walking in time to the music of the outside world.
But I know, oh no But I know, oh no But I know
Despite everything, I know.
Shadows and tall trees
Shapes of darkness and trees that scrape the sky.
Life through a window Discolored pain
Seeing life through a window fills with pain that is no longer colorful.
Misses Brown's washing is always the same
Misses Brown's laundry never truly changes.
Do you feel in me Anything redeeming Any worthwhile feeling Is love like a tightrope Hanging from the ceiling
Do you see anything in me that is valuable or worth feeling? Is love something that is fragile and easily broken?
(Out there)
(Out there in the world)
Shadows, shadows, shadows Shadows, shadows, shadows Shadows and tall trees Shadows and tall trees
Shapes of darkness and trees that scrape the sky.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Adam Clayton, Dave Evans, Larry Mullen, Paul ; Hewson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@samuelquezada7745
had to watch this for a LotF paper
@jerrankramer5910
Same
@potatochips42
Same
@iantodd1260
What I like about U2 is they point you to good books you can read which have obviously been their inspiration for songs and albums.
@TheDrsnowblind
This song brings me back so many memories, remember that I used to go to the movie theater, sometimes alone, sometimes with my girlfriend, but I would always watch the last movie of the night and then I would return home on the longest way just to listen to the album, and at the end this song was always playing as I was driving through a street full of trees, it was just magical, it was the perfect song for the perfect nights.
@notone4029
When U2 was king and Excellent!
@davidellis5141
Close out Boy with this epic. Great Debut.Steve Lillywhite the master.
@cerencengiz925
In memory of Lord of the Flies,
@hiworldstephensonultranate290
No U2
@dollyizdead
@@hiworldstephensonultranate290the song is about lord of the flies