Roger, along with the other Byrds members, was honored with an induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.
The Trees Are All Gone
Roger McGuinn Lyrics
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Have all begun to melt
Temperatures are on the rise
Far from the southern belt
Water levels shifting tides
On every changing land
Rain forests in the Amazon
And the trees are all gone
Yeah you know it's all wrong
And the trees are all gone
The people want to eat today
And so they clear the land
Global warming is a concept
They can't understand
But all the politcians now
They have no excuse
They just hide behind their power
And keep us from the truth
Man has tried his suicide
With bigotry and hate
But in the end he'll kill himself
With nothing but his waste
What will finally happen when
The farm lands turn to dust
When only rich receive the food
And nothing's left for us
But all the politcians now
They have no excuse
They just hide behind their power
And keep us from the truth
Roger McGuinn's song "The Trees Are All Gone" is a powerful commentary on the impact of human actions on the environment. The opening lines of the song reference melting glaciers near the polar camp, which are causing temperatures to rise. The melting of these glaciers is a direct result of human activities such as burning fossil fuels and cutting down forests. The second verse poignantly highlights the disappearance of rainforests in the Amazon, which are being cleared for agricultural activities to feed a growing population. McGuinn's use of the line "And the trees are all gone" is a stark reminder of the impact of these human activities on the environment that sustains us.
The third verse of the song takes aim at politicians who hide behind their power rather than grappling with the truth of climate change. The verse calls out these politicians for their lack of action and for allowing the destruction of the environment to continue. McGuinn's lyrics suggest that humans are committing suicide through their actions and that eventually, the rich will be the only ones left with access to food and resources. The song ends with a call to action, urging listeners to wake up and take action to protect the environment.
Overall, the song is a poignant commentary on the destruction of the environment and human apathy towards this destruction. The lyrics are a reminder that we need to act now to protect the planet before it's too late.
Line by Line Meaning
The glaciers near the polar camp
The glaciers near the Arctic region are melting due to rising temperatures.
Have all begun to melt
The melting of the glaciers has already started and is accelerating.
Temperatures are on the rise
The overall temperatures on Earth are increasing every year.
Far from the southern belt
This is happening not only in the southern part of the world but globally.
Water levels shifting tides
Due to melting glaciers, water levels in oceans are rising, causing shifting tides.
On every changing land
This is impacting all areas of land including coastlines and islands.
Rain forests in the Amazon
The large areas of the Amazonian rain forest are being destroyed by human activity.
Have vanished from our hand
These rain forests are disappearing, and we are losing them permanently.
And the trees are all gone
The trees in forests and rain forests are disappearing, and there is no hope of recovery.
Yeah you know it's all wrong
It’s clear that this kind of destruction is terrible and not the correct path forward.
The people want to eat today
People prioritize their immediate needs, such as hunger, over long term dangers.
And so they clear the land
They engage in activities that provide immediate sustenance, such as agriculture.
Global warming is a concept
Some people don’t believe in Global warming despite scientific evidence backing its existence.
They can't understand
Some people are not able to understand the implications of Global Warming.
But all the politicians now
Despite evidence, politicians refuse to take action or make commitments to address the issue.
They have no excuse
Politicians are expected to work for the greater good and not solely their interests.
They just hide behind their power
They have the power to make changes but are not willing to put that power to work.
And keep us from the truth
They prevent us from accepting the truth and taking preventive measures.
Man has tried his suicide
We engage in activities that will eventually lead to our destruction and death.
With bigotry and hate
People’s intolerance and prejudices have contributed to the environmental issues we face.
But in the end he'll kill himself
The end result of our actions is the destruction of the planet and our own demise.
With nothing but his waste
We are responsible for the waste products that eventually lead to our destruction.
What will finally happen when
This is what will occur when we fail to take action now.
The farm lands turn to dust
Through land degradation, farm lands will eventually become unusable.
When only rich receive the food
The inequality of food distribution will lead to impoverishment for all except the rich.
And nothing's left for us
Our carelessness will cause suffering where there is no other option left.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CAMILLA MCGUINN, ROGER MCGUINN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind