The songs for her album, 'The Pirate’s Gospel', were written on a trip to Europe. They were recorded in her father’s studio and were initially self-released in 2004, in paper and lace sleeves with hand lettering. The album was issued in revised form by Holocene Music in October 2006, and received widespread critical acclaim.
A new song, "Dry Grass and Shadows", was issued on a compilation of Nevada City artists, and five more new songs were issued on a limited-edition 10" vinyl pressing, Songs Whistled Through White Teeth, released in the UK in October 2006. The Pirate's Gospel was released in the UK on Names Records in April 2007, garnering favorable reviews in The Times and NME.
Alela Diane has toured in the USA both solo and with Tom Brosseau, and has also opened for the Decemberists, Akron/Family and Vashti Bunyan. She performed in the UK in April and August 2007. According to a relatively recent interview, her second album is to be expected shortly. She now lives in Nevada City, California.
She toured Europe (UK, Ireland, France, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany) in March, April and May 2008.
The Alder Trees
Alela Diane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The alder trees are listening to songs been sung before
My friend and I collecting skeletons of leaves
Marking tiny piles, and sifting through the weeds
Wind blows the tiny green, tiny green
Wind blows the tiny green, helicopter seeds
Wind blows the tiny green, tiny green
Oh! wandering in days unfolding
With paths fashioned of mud and snakeskin
Oh! wandering in days unfolding
With paths fashioned of mud and snakeskin
of mud and snakeskin
I think about the ladies who weren't allowed to sing
Sewing all their pretty rows of thread instead of seed
And what about the black braided sisters of Marie?
We sat upon upon their grinding rock as children used to be
Beneath the knotted pine, knotted pine
Beneath the knotted pine at the garden's edge
Beneath the knotted pine, knotted pine
Beneath the knotted pine at the garden's edge
Oh, laughing! Little girls clapping
And ghosts weaving our hair to baskets
Oh, laughing! Little girls clapping
And ghosts weaving our hair to baskets
our hair to baskets
I can hear the elders whispering in words so sweet and low
The alder trees are listening to songs been sung before
My friend and I collecting skeletons of leaves
Making tiny piles and sifting through the weeds
Making tiny piles and sifting through the weeds
The lyrics of Alela Diane's song, "The Alder Trees," seem to be taking the listener on a nostalgic journey through time. The personification of the elders and the trees suggest that there is an innate connection between the natural world and our ancestors. The song evokes a sense of longing for the past, when times were simpler and more innocent. The line "wandering in days unfolding with paths fashioned of mud and snakeskin" creates an image of a time when people were more in tune with the earth, and their environment was more raw and untouched.
The second verse of the song is a reflection on the oppression that women, particularly women of color, have faced throughout history. The line "I think about the ladies who weren't allowed to sing sewing all their pretty rows of thread instead of seed" speaks to the silencing of women's voices and the relegation of women to domestic tasks. The mention of the "black braided sisters of Marie" suggests a reference to Marie Laveau, the famous voodoo priestess of New Orleans, who was an important figure in the black community there. The line "we sat upon their grinding rock as children used to be" suggests that the singer has some connection to this community and perhaps experienced a sense of belonging or solidarity with them.
The chorus of the song is a repetition of the phrase "wind blows the tiny green, tiny green," and "helicopter seeds." This is a reference to the dispersal of tree seeds by the wind, a natural process that has been occurring for millions of years. It reinforces the idea that life goes on, even as things change and time marches on. The final line of the song, "making tiny piles and sifting through the weeds," suggests that there is still beauty to be found in the present moment, even as we look to the past with longing.
Line by Line Meaning
I can hear the elders whispering in words so sweet and low
The singer can hear the wise elders sharing their knowledge in hushed tones
The alder trees are listening to songs been sung before
The alder trees are experiencing and remembering the beauty of past songs being sung
My friend and I collecting skeletons of leaves
The singer and their friend are gathering the remnants of dead leaves
Marking tiny piles, and sifting through the weeds
They are separating the fallen leaves into small groups with care
Wind blows the tiny green, tiny green
The wind is moving the small green things
Wind blows the tiny green, helicopter seeds
The wind is blowing tiny green things that look like helicopter seeds
Oh! wandering in days unfolding
The singer expresses their excitement for the unknown future
With paths fashioned of mud and snakeskin
The future is unpredictable and mysterious, full of challenges and different experiences
I think about the ladies who weren't allowed to sing
The artist reflects on the women who were not given the opportunity to express themselves through song
Sewing all their pretty rows of thread instead of seed
These women had to channel their creativity into sewing
And what about the black braided sisters of Marie?
The singer wonders about the unique experiences of the black women who knew Marie
We sat upon upon their grinding rock as children used to be
The artist remembers sitting on a rock with a group of people, as children often do
Beneath the knotted pine, knotted pine
There is a knotted pine tree nearby
Beneath the knotted pine at the garden's edge
The knotted pine is at the edge of a garden
Oh, laughing! Little girls clapping
The singer recalls a happy moment of young girls clapping and laughing
And ghosts weaving our hair to baskets
The artist conjures a whimsical image of spirits using their hair to weave baskets
Making tiny piles and sifting through the weeds
The artist and their friend carefully organize piles of leaves and examine the surrounding weeds
Contributed by John P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.