The Beastie Boys watching the… Read Full Bio ↴William Charles Lindsay. Philadelphia, PA.
The Beastie Boys watching the Breakfast Club at Warped Tour.Philly Electro-Pop. Get wild.
Tree
W. C. Lindsay Lyrics
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On this tree I bought
That I now own
Skies are red
Like my face when I remembered what I said
On that day
I sit alone
On a pillar of ice that will melt real soon
And I'm sorry if I caused you any pain
But I do think it's better this way
I've been trying to find my way
In this underground cave
And I'm sorry if I caused you any pain
But I do think it's better this way
I've been tending this fire all-day
To keep a pack of hungry wolves away
I'm staring down
It goes right to your head she said
As she turned around
See the leaves
And the sun and the birds
But I still shake and turn
Can you tell
If I love all my trophies
Or if I'm going to hell
Oh if I'm going to hell
And I'm sorry if I caused you any pain
But I do think it's better this way
I've been trying to find my way
In this underground cave
And I'm sorry if I caused you any pain
But I do think it's better this way
I've been tending this fire all-day
To keep a pack of hungry wolves away
I sit alone
On this tree I bought
That I now own
Own
The lyrics to W. C. Lindsay's song "Tree" are highly introspective and evoke a sense of loneliness, guilt, and anxiety amidst a natural setting. The singer in the song is sitting on a tree that they have bought and now own. The skies are red, perhaps indicating a sunset or even a storm, but the imagery also reflects the singer's emotional state. They feel red-faced or ashamed for something they said on a previous day. The pillar of ice the singer is sitting upon is symbolic of their own fragile and impermanent state. It will "melt real soon," much like their own anxieties and feelings of isolation.
The singer apologizes if they have caused anyone pain but asserts that they believe it is better this way. They have been trying to find their way in an underground cave, which can represent a sense of feeling trapped or uncertain about their future. The singer mentions tending a fire all day to keep a pack of hungry wolves away. This detail adds to the natural setting of the song but could also be interpreted metaphorically as the singer trying to fend off their own fears and anxieties.
Overall, "Tree" is a song that reflects on personal struggles and trying to navigate life's uncertainties while being weighed down by guilt and regret. It emphasizes the importance of taking ownership of one's emotions and experiences while finding ways to cope with one's own struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
I sit alone
I am by myself and no one else is present with me
On this tree I bought
I purchased this tree and it is now under my ownership
That I now own
As a result of purchasing it, I am now the owner of this tree
Skies are red
The sky is colored with shades of red
Like my face when I remembered what I said
When I recalled something I had said, my face started showing shades of red too
On that day
A day in the past that I suffered an event or experience
On a pillar of ice that will melt real soon
I am situated on a cold column of ice that will soon thaw and disappear
Oh it'll melt real soon
This ice would soon melt and become water
And I'm sorry if I caused you any pain
I am remorseful if any harm was caused to you as a result of my actions
But I do think it's better this way
However, I am convinced that this outcome is for the best
I've been trying to find my way
I have been endeavoring to discover the correct path to take
In this underground cave
In this abyss concealed beneath the ground
And I'm sorry if I caused you any pain
Once more, I apologize if any damage was done to you as a result of my behavior
But I do think it's better this way
Yet I believe the result is more favorable in this manner
I've been tending this fire all-day
I've been managing this flame all day long
To keep a pack of hungry wolves away
To prevent a group of starved wolves from approaching me
I'm staring down
I'm gazing downward in contemplation or concentration
It goes right to your head she said
Someone has informed me that it affects you considerably
As she turned around
While she spun herself in another direction
See the leaves
Observe the foliage coming out of the tree
And the sun and the birds
Also take notice of the shining sun and the chirping birds
But I still shake and turn
Despite this, I am still trembling with distress and unease
Can you tell
Are you aware or able to identify
If I love all my trophies
Whether I have affection for my possessions or acquisitions
Or if I'm going to hell
Or if the afterlife will be an unpleasant experience for me
Oh if I'm going to hell
If I'm destined to endure a painful afterlife
And I'm sorry if I caused you any pain
Once again, I apologize if I caused any damage to you
But I do think it's better this way
Regardless, I am convinced that this outcome is best
I've been trying to find my way
I have been attempting to discover the right direction
In this underground cave
Within this concealed abyss beneath the ground
And I'm sorry if I caused you any pain
Once again, an apology for inflicting any injury on you
But I do think it's better this way
Nevertheless, I still believe that this result is better
I've been tending this fire all-day
All day I've been maintaining the flames
To keep a pack of hungry wolves away
In order to repel a group of famished wolves
I sit alone
I am presently sitting by myself
On this tree I bought
On this tree that I own because I purchased it
That I now own
A tree that is currently under my ownership
Own
A concluding statement indicating I own the tree
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Riley Chapman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind