A Seed's A Star And Tree Medley
Stevie Wonder Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

We're a people black as is your night
Born to spread Amma's eternal light
Which since time began
Has been to bring truth to every man

Our ancestors have since long ago
Passed their wisdom down so we to know
For here lies the key
That will help unfold the mistery

A seed's a star
A seed's a star's a seed
A star's a seed
A star's a seed's a star

In myself I do contain
The elements of sun and rain
First a seed with roots that swell
I gradually burst through my shell
Pushing down into the ground
The root of me is homeward bound
A trunk, a leaf and there I am
A miracle of least by far

Tree, you are the longest living one we know
the largest of all plants and still you grow

Tree, within your branches there's such history
so much of what we're searching for to know

Every fifty years we celebrate
Po Tolo, our star, as it rotates
Though infinitely small
It is still the heaviest of them all

A seed's a star
A seed's a star's a seed
A star's a seed
A star's a seed's a star
A seed's a star
A seed's a star's a seed
A star's a seed
A star's a seed's a star

Ye Lolo De Ye
Lolo Ye Kesse De Ye
Kesse ye lolo De Ye
Lolo Ye Kesse De Ye
Kesse ye lolo De Ye
Lolo Ye Kesse De Ye
Kesse ye lolo De Ye
Lolo Ye Kesse De Ye

And some believe antennas are their leaves
That spans beyond our galaxy




They've been, they are and probably will be
Who are the mediocrity

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Stevie Wonder’s song “A Seed’s a Star” can be interpreted to express the belief that the Black community is blessed with the wisdom and truth passed down through generations of ancestors who have since long ago passed on their wisdom. The song expresses the belief that Black people are born to spread Amma’s eternal light, which has been to bring truth to every human being since the beginning of time. It emphasizes the importance of understanding and preserving the key to this knowledge in order to fully engage with the mystery of existence.


The lyrics also take us through the process of the growth of a seed into a fully grown tree, which presents itself as a metaphor for the Black community. It talks about how a seed contains within itself the elements of sun and rain, gradually bursting through its shell, pushing down into the ground, and growing into a miracle of nature. The song implores listeners to look at the immense history and knowledge stored within the branches of the tree.


The song seems to be making the point that the tree is forever growing and producing life and knowledge. It goes on to talk about how the celebration of a star, Po Tolo, every fifty years, is a reminder to the Black community of its enduring legacy. The song also draws attention to the concept that Black people are often seen as mediocrity, pushed to the margins. Through the lyrics, the song encourages listeners to recognize the strength and truth in every human being, even in those who may be perceived as less than.


Line by Line Meaning

We're a people black as is your night
We are a people with beautiful darkness in our skin, born to spread the everlasting light of Amma.


Born to spread Amma's eternal light
Our purpose is to spread the divine, everlasting light of Amma.


Which since time began
The light of Amma has been present since the beginning of time.


Has been to bring truth to every man
The purpose of Amma's light is to bring truth to every human being.


Our ancestors have since long ago
Our forefathers, a long time ago, passed on their wisdom to us.


Passed their wisdom down so we to know
They have passed down their knowledge and wisdom to us so we too can understand.


For here lies the key
Here is where we can find the secret.


That will help unfold the mistery
This secret will reveal the hidden truths to us.


A seed's a star
A single seed has the potential to become a shining star.


A seed's a star's a seed
A star is born from a seed, and that star can produce new seeds.


A star's a seed
Even the brightest stars had humble beginnings as a small seed.


A star's a seed's a star
A small seed that grows into a star can produce even more stars.


In myself I do contain
Within me lies the essence of the natural elements.


The elements of sun and rain
I embody the properties of warmth and moisture.


First a seed with roots that swell
At first, I begin as a tiny seed with large roots that start to grow.


I gradually burst through my shell
Slowly but surely, I break free from my outer covering.


Pushing down into the ground
I drive my roots deeper and deeper into the soil.


The root of me is homeward bound
My roots are headed towards my home, the earth.


A trunk, a leaf and there I am
From a small seed, I become a complete plant with a trunk and leaves.


A miracle of least by far
The transformation from a small seed into a full-grown plant is a fascinating and impressive feat.


Tree, you are the longest living one we know
The tree is one of the longest-living organisms that we are aware of.


the largest of all plants and still you grow
Despite being the biggest plant, the tree still continues to grow.


Tree, within your branches there's such history
The tree has a rich history held within its branches.


so much of what we're searching for to know
There is much that we can learn from the tree and its history.


Every fifty years we celebrate
Once every half-century, we come together to honor a star named Po Tolo.


Po Tolo, our star, as it rotates
The star we celebrate, Po Tolo, spins on its axis.


Though infinitely small
Despite being incredibly tiny,


It is still the heaviest of them all
Po Tolo is the densest and heaviest star in the sky.


Ye Lolo De Ye
A phrase sung in celebration and reverence.


Lolo Ye Kesse De Ye
Another phrase sang in honor of Po Tolo.


Kesse ye lolo De Ye
A third phrase sang in recognition of Po Tolo's significance.


And some believe antennas are their leaves
There are those who believe that the leaves of certain trees act as antennae.


That spans beyond our galaxy
These trees are thought to have a reach that extends far beyond our own galaxy.


They've been, they are and probably will be
These trees have existed in the past, exist now, and are likely to continue to do so in the future.


Who are the mediocrity
These trees are anything but ordinary and truly unique.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

Cheryl Rowland Hall


on Isn't She Lovely

Dedicated to my lovely daughter, Amy Kathleen Rawson, the lovely child who helped mom to grow up!