Out of Our Tree
The Wailers Lyrics
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Seein' every crazy sight
A lady in a evenin' gown
Made from a paper kite
We asked her why
She wore such a crazy gown
She said if ya wanna fly
Ya gotta get off the ground
Don't know what we hear an' see
Hey, we gotta be...
Out of our tree
Out of our tree
Out of our tree
Ran a little ways more
And we happened to meet
A man building a door
Right in the middle of the street
We asked him why
He did such a crazy thing
He said if ya wanna get by
The doorbell ya hafta ring
Don't know what we hear an' see
Hey, we gotta be...
Out of our tree
Out of our tree
Out of our tree
Diggin' through a garbage can
Out jumped a rat
A dog an' the garbage man
Now everything we see
We don't try to figure out
We know that it just can't be
But it's happenin' without a doubt
Don't know what we hear an' see
Hey, we gotta be...
Out of our tree
Out of our tree
Out of our tree
Out of our tree.
Out of our tree.
Out of our tree.
Out of our tree.
Out of our tree.
Out of our tree.
Out of our tree.
Out of our tree.
Out of our tree.
The Wailers' "Out of Our Tree" is a psychedelic and whimsical commentary on the counterculture of the 1960s. The song narrates the experiences of a group of wanderers who are out and about, exploring the bizarre sights and sounds of the world around them. They encounter a lady wearing an evening gown made out of a paper kite, a man building a door in the middle of the street, and a rat jumping out of a garbage can. Each time they ask why these individuals are doing such crazy things, and the response they receive is always the same: if you want to fly, you have to get off the ground. If you want to get by, you have to ring the doorbell. In other words, to make it in this world, you have to do something out of the ordinary.
The chorus of the song, "Out of Our Tree," is a play on words that suggests the characters are not only exploring the world, but they are also out of their minds. The lyrics imply that to embrace the counterculture of the 1960s, one must be open to new experiences and ways of thinking. The song paints a picture of a world that is strange and unpredictable but worth exploring nonetheless.
Line by Line Meaning
Out, runnin' around
We are wandering aimlessly
Seein' every crazy sight
We are witnessing bizarre things
A lady in a evenin' gown
A woman dressed formally
Made from a paper kite
Her outfit is made out of a kite
We asked her why
We inquire about her attire
She wore such a crazy gown
We are questioning the lady's dress
She said if ya wanna fly
She answered that if one wants to soar
Ya gotta get off the ground
One must depart from solid land
Ran a little ways more
We continued our journey
And we happened to meet
We encountered another person
A man building a door
A man constructing an entrance
Right in the middle of the street
He is erecting the door in the center of the road
We asked him why
We inquire about his peculiar action
He did such a crazy thing
We question the construction of the door
He said if ya wanna get by
He responded that to pass through
The doorbell ya hafta ring
One needs to ring the bell on the door
Diggin' through a garbage can
We are searching through the trash
Out jumped a rat
A rat leapt out
A dog an' the garbage man
A dog and the garbage collector were also present
Now everything we see
We observe every detail
We don't try to figure out
We do not attempt to comprehend
We know that it just can't be
We are aware that it doesn't make sense
But it's happenin' without a doubt
However, it's occurring without a question
Out of our tree.
We are behaving in an unusual manner
Out of our tree.
We are not acting rationally
Out of our tree.
We are exhibiting abnormal behavior
Out of our tree.
We are not adhering to societal norms
Out of our tree.
We are not thinking logically
Out of our tree.
Our actions are unorthodox
Out of our tree.
We are experiencing peculiar situations
Out of our tree.
Our thoughts are not coherent
Out of our tree.
We are in an irrational state
Contributed by Katherine L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Walt Fechter
I remember this one very well. A true adrenaline rush. Like a couple of 60s-era rails (dragsters) ready to drop the hammer and leave the line. What I danced to way back when. This is king tone, baby. For Kelly and Cathy.
Harry Mccabe
Wailers and Sonics 2 great Seattle groups !!
Brennan CJ
Don't forget the Viceroys at "Granny's Pad" or the Kingsmen's "Louie Louie" and "Jolly Green Giant"!
Harry Mccabe
One of the all-time best stonesesque !!!
Raymond Vaniel
This song kicks ass!
Raymond Vaniel
One of the best!!!
leftylimbo
Ok so I've been listening to '60s garage rock all day; this is #170 out of a 542-song playlist (search for Pre Punk 1960s Garage Rock by CydnotcCharisse1) and definitely a song I'll bookmark because it rocks like hell.
So is it just me, or in this genre is there some kind of requisite scream/howl/yoowww that the lead singer has to do right before the solo? It's a very characteristic one and I'm trying to figure out if maybe there's a song or artist that everyone modeled it from.
Walt Fechter
I dedicate this one to Ann-Margret Olson -- the swingin-est dancin-est chick of the 60s!
Alain Lazzini
Fabuleux πππ
Harry Mccabe
Wailers - Seattle Rocks !!!