The band's 2003 album Up All Night reached the top five of the Australian Albums Chart, it achieved double platinum status and won four ARIA Awards in October. Two further top five albums were issued, Sun Dirt Water in 2007 and Temptation in 2011. The Waifs have three top fifty singles, "London Still" (2002), "Bridal Train" (2004) and "Sun Dirt Water". The band supported Bob Dylan on his 2003 Australian tour and then his 2003 North American tour, including a gig at the Newport Folk Festival.
The Waifs founded the independent label Jarrah Records in July 2002, co-owned with fellow musician John Butler, and their common manager Phil Stevens, which handles their Australian releases.
Willow Tree
The Waifs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
to come back to me, but you're so far away.
I just sit by here in the morning sun,
and I wait under the willow tree.
It was a bitter seed that you left that day
when you walked out my door screaming "Get out of my face!"
I took all your hurtin' words, I took your bad deeds
Under the willow tree, that's where I wait for you
to come back to me, but you're so far away.
I just sit by here in the morning sun,
and I wait under the willow tree.
---
But such beauty grew from bitterness.
Oh how it's helped to heal this heavy heart,
oh and I want you to know, yeah that it's ok.
If you come back I would welcome you like it was yesterday.
Under the willow tree, that's where I wait for you
to come back to me, but you're so far away.
I just sit by here in the morning sun,
and I wait under the willow tree.
---
Oh, but I'm not asking you for union, no-no.
I want your promise to be true oh,
'Cos I've been around the world, honey I've seen enough to know -
there aint nobody else. I'd rather walk with you.
Under the willow tree, that's where I wait for you
to come back to me, but you're so far away.
I just sit right here and I play my guitar,
and I wait under the willow tree.
Under the willow tree.
This song by The Waifs tells the story of someone who is waiting for a lost love to return under the comforting shade of a willow tree. The lyrics suggest that the person has suffered great emotional pain, with their love having left them in a fit of anger, using hurtful words and actions. But despite this, they have found solace and healing in the natural beauty of the willow tree, and continue to wait there, hoping for their love's return.
The song speaks to the power of nature to soothe our hearts and provide a sense of calm in uncertain times. It also explores the idea of forgiveness and second chances, as the person declares that they would welcome their love back with open arms, as long as they could trust them to be true. The gentle, acoustic melody and harmonies enhance the emotional depth of the lyrics, creating a poignant and reflective mood that invites the listener to join the singer under the willow tree and contemplate their own experiences of love and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
Under the willow tree, that's where I wait for you
to come back to me, but you're so far away.
The singer is waiting for their loved one to return, but they're far away.
I just sit by here in the morning sun,
and I wait under the willow tree.
The singer spends their mornings waiting for their loved one under the willow tree.
It was a bitter seed that you left that day
when you walked out my door screaming "Get out of my face!"
I took all your hurtin' words, I took your bad deeds
and I buried 'em deep underneath that tree.
The singer's loved one left them in a hurtful way, but the singer forgives them and buried the hurtful memories under the willow tree.
But such beauty grew from bitterness.
Oh how it's helped to heal this heavy heart,
oh and I want you to know, yeah that it's ok.
Although things were bitter in the past, the beauty that grew from it helped to heal the artist's heavy heart, and they want their loved one to know that everything is okay now.
If you come back I would welcome you like it was yesterday.
The artist is willing to welcome their loved one back with open arms, as if nothing had happened in the past.
Oh, but I'm not asking you for union, no-no.
I want your promise to be true oh,
'Cos I've been around the world, honey I've seen enough to know -
there aint nobody else. I'd rather walk with you.
The singer doesn't necessarily want to be in a committed union with their loved one, but they do want their promise to be true. They know that there's nobody else they'd rather be with.
Under the willow tree, that's where I wait for you
to come back to me, but you're so far away.
I just sit right here and I play my guitar,
and I wait under the willow tree.
The singer waits under the willow tree for their loved one, playing their guitar and hoping for their return.
Under the willow tree.
Repeating the sentiment that the artist waits under the willow tree for their loved one.
Contributed by Elijah Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@alexwatkins2418
This song gives me chills even after several years when my dad played it to me
@SageNorris
And here is my childhood!!! Best song ever!!!
@Okboiye
Awesome song
@christineh3353
Funky li'll tune I like it. Gets the hips moving.