Trees
The Lookouts Lyrics
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In endless shades of green the ancient forest stands
Where water mingles with the earth beneath the tangled sky
Kissed by the sun’s deep fire the mighty trees grow high
They take the poison air we breathe and make it clean again
Sometimes it seems like mother nature is our only friend
But off in the distance I can hear the engines howl
The scream of the bulldozer the tractor’s ugly growl
Leaving only gaping scars where she once nursed us at her breast
And now in her hour of darkness trying to ease the pain
Turns her face up to the sky to be washed with acid rain
The earth is quiet now waiting for the storm
Some have taken shelter they already have been warned
But most of us must wait without to meet our awful fate
Because for this poor planet the warning came too late
And now as we walk this barren land beneath a poison sky
Fill the aching universe with our final cry
The Lookouts's song Trees is a poignant commentary on the destructive effects of human intervention on the natural world. The lyrics evoke the majesty and power of a pristine forest, describing it as a sanctuary from the pollution and chaos of modern civilization. The forest is painted as a source of solace and rejuvenation, a place where the air is pure and the trees grow tall and strong.
However, this paradise is soon threatened by the intervention of mankind, which seeks to exploit and destroy it. The bulldozers and tractors that arrive to clear the land are depicted as savage and merciless, tearing through the forest with a brutal force that leaves behind only scars and devastation. The song highlights the tragic irony of this destruction: even as we destroy the very environment that sustains us, we are left with no place to escape the toxic aftermath.
Ultimately, this theme of human destruction of the natural world is a warning for a world that has already seen too much of it. The lyrics urge us to heed the warning signs, to take action to protect our planet before it's too late. In the end, the song implores us to listen to the cries of the earth and respond with compassion and care, before it's too late.
Line by Line Meaning
Far from the eyes of stupid grinning man
The ancient forest stands far away from ignorant people who do not appreciate its beauty and importance.
In endless shades of green the ancient forest stands
The forest is full of green trees that have been standing there since ancient times.
Where water mingles with the earth beneath the tangled sky
The forest is a place where water and earth come together and the sky overhead is full of tangled branches.
Kissed by the sun’s deep fire the mighty trees grow high
The trees are tall and strong, and they grow because they are nourished by the sunlight.
They take the poison air we breathe and make it clean again
Trees help to purify the air by removing pollutants and producing oxygen.
Sometimes it seems like mother nature is our only friend
Nature provides us with many resources and supports our existence, making it seem like our only true friend.
But off in the distance I can hear the engines howl
The sound of machines can be heard in the distance, indicating that humans are destroying the natural environment.
The scream of the bulldozer the tractor’s ugly growl
Machines like bulldozers and tractors are noisy and unpleasant, making it clear that the destruction they cause is harmful.
Ripping great bloody gouges in our mother’s flesh
The destruction of the forest is metaphorically compared to someone inflicting deep wounds on their own mother, who is the Earth.
Leaving only gaping scars where she once nursed us at her breast
The forest's destruction leaves behind large scars where we once relied on its resources to survive.
And now in her hour of darkness trying to ease the pain
The Earth is struggling to overcome the damage caused by humans.
Turns her face up to the sky to be washed with acid rain
The Earth is being harmed by acidic rain that falls from the sky, further worsening her condition.
The earth is quiet now waiting for the storm
The destruction of the forest has left the Earth and the environment in a state of waiting for natural disasters that are just waiting to occur.
Some have taken shelter they already have been warned
Some people have prepared for the natural disasters that are coming, but not everyone has taken proper precautions.
But most of us must wait without to meet our awful fate
Many people are unprepared for the damage that will be caused by natural disasters and must face the consequences.
Because for this poor planet the warning came too late
It is too late to save the planet from the damage caused by human actions.
And now as we walk this barren land beneath a poison sky
The land is now barren and the sky is poisonous, making it difficult to survive.
Fill the aching universe with our final cry
As a result of our actions, we are in agony and are screaming our last cries as the world disintegrates around us.
Contributed by Sydney K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.