01 Black Pear Tree
The Mountain Goats & Kaki King Lyrics
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Rested on the cool grass for a minute
I saw the future in a dream last night
There’s nothing in it
I set the sapling in the hole
Started gently tamping down the dirt
I saw the future in a dream last night
Somebody’s gonna get hurt, somebody’s gonna get hurt
I hope it’s not me
But I suspect it’s going to have to be
I dug my heels in for the winter
And I waited for the snow
But something was stuck up in the clouds
Something was stuck up there
It couldn’t let go
And when its time came I could see it happen
Blossoms black and sweet as Texas crude
I saw the future flowering like a ruptured vessel
Somebody’s gonna get screwed
It won’t be me
Someday I am going to walk out of here free
The lyrics to The Mountain Goats & Kaki King's song "01 Black Pear Tree" paint a vivid picture of a person planting a sapling, resting for a moment, and having a dream that foretells an uncertain future. The lyrics describe the singer's apprehension about a situation that is beyond their control. They hope that they are not the one who will get hurt in the situation, but suspect that they will have to take the brunt of it. The song is a metaphorical representation of the challenges that we all face in our lives, and how we must dig our heels in and wait out the storms that come our way.
The themes in the song touch on the idea of growth, struggle, and uncertainty. The planting of the sapling represents the beginning of something new, which is full of potential and possibilities. But the singer’s dream of a future with nothing in it suggests that the possibilities may not all be good. They are torn between wanting to protect themselves from the coming storm and wanting to see what will happen. The images of the flowering black pear tree and “somebody getting screwed” point to the darker side of life, where things don’t always go as hoped for. But the final line of the song, “Someday I am going to walk out of here free,” suggests that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and that we can all emerge from difficult times with newfound freedom and strength.
Line by Line Meaning
I dug a hole and filled it up with compost
I prepared a place to grow something, enriching the soil with nutrients
Rested on the cool grass for a minute
Taking a moment to appreciate the beauty around me
I saw the future in a dream last night
I had a premonition of what's to come
There’s nothing in it
The future I saw was empty and devoid of meaning
I set the sapling in the hole
I planted the young plant, giving it a chance to grow
Started gently tamping down the dirt
I carefully packed the soil around the plant, ensuring it has a secure foundation
Somebody’s gonna get hurt, somebody’s gonna get hurt
I sense danger and possible harm in the future
I hope it’s not me
I fear for my safety and well-being
But I suspect it’s going to have to be
Despite my hopes, I know that I might end up being the one hurt
I dug my heels in for the winter
I prepared to face a difficult and challenging time
And I waited for the snow
I was patient and waited for the harshness of winter to pass
But something was stuck up in the clouds
Some obstacle or challenge was preventing progress
Something was stuck up there
Something beyond my control was blocking my path
It couldn’t let go
The obstacle was persistent and not easily resolved
And when its time came I could see it happen
Eventually, the situation would come to a head and reach a climax
Blossoms black and sweet as Texas crude
The outcome was both alluring and dangerous, like the oil from Texas
I saw the future flowering like a ruptured vessel
The future was both beautiful and violent, like a vessel that has burst open
Somebody’s gonna get screwed
Someone is going to be hurt or adversely affected by the situation
It won’t be me
Despite the danger, I believe I will come out unscathed
Someday I am going to walk out of here free
I hope to someday escape the difficulties and challenges of my current situation
Contributed by Samantha H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Frankie Kavakich
god i wish this was on spotify
LakesideView
They covered Black Pear Tree on Spotify!
River Gus
@Eduardo Bronson definitely, been using kaldroStream for months myself =)
Daniel Thompson
God I wish I could at least purchase it somewhere
honestly
went to go like this comment, realized i already liked it
please john for the love of all that is good in this world give us the black pear tree on spotify
Aaron Giganti
Anyone else periodically forget about this album because it isn’t on spotify and then suddenly remember it and feel this overwhelming urge to listen to it and cry
rob
Doing just that right now
Please Drive Faster!
Black Pear Tree is absolutely on the highest tier of all tMG releases. John lyrically and vocally in peak form with dazzling, diverse arrangements of sound. Every track is a stunner.
11/10
Kris Harsh
it's confrontational to boot!
nyanarchist
Im very glad I have this EP, and will forever be grateful to the person who showed me it. This EP has made me cry more times than I can count and helped me through a lot, and I'm sure I'll be coming back to it still years from now. God bless The Mountain Goats, and god bless everyone else who has ever and will ever need this EP like I have, I hope it helps you as much as it has helped me. Someday we will all walk out of here free