The Beach Boys

Lyrics

[Verse: Jack Rieley]
Feel the wind burn through my skin
The pain, the air is killing me
For years my limbs stretched to the sky
A nest for birds to sit and sing
But now my branches suffer
And my leaves don't bear the glow
They did so long ago
One day I was full of life
My sap was rich and I was strong
From seed to tree I grew so tall
Through wind and rain I could not fall
But now my branches suffer
And my leaves don't offer
Poetry to men of song

[Outro: Jack Rieley, Van Dyke Parks, Al Jardine]
Trees like me weren't meant to live
If all this world can give
Pollution and slow death
Oh Lord I lay me down
No life's left to be found
There's nothing left for me

Trees like me weren't meant to live
If all this earth can give
Is pollution
Trees like me weren't meant to live
(Oh Lord I lay me down)
If all this earth can give
(My branches to the ground)
Is pollution and slow death
(There's nothing left for me)
Oh Lord I lay me down
My branches to the ground
There's nothing left for me

If you're a fan of The Beach Boys, you'll know that they have a talent for making music that's both catchy and deep. A Day In The Life Of A Tree is one such song that really makes you stop and think. It's not just a song about a tree - it's a metaphor for life. In this song, we see a tree grow up, experience joy and happiness, and then slowly wilt away. It's a song about the inevitability of death and the sadness that comes with it.

What makes this song so great is the way that it expresses those emotions. From the lyrics to the pain in the singer's voice, you can really feel the sadness and depression that the person feels as they come to terms with their own mortality. It's a powerful and moving song that really hits home.

About A Day In The Life Of A Tree

A Day In The Life Of A Tree was released in 1971 on The Beach Boys' album Surf's Up. The song was written by Brian Wilson, who was the main songwriter and creative force behind the band. The song is unusual in that it's not a typical love song or pop song - it's a more introspective and melancholy piece.

The song opens with the line, "I'm a cork on the ocean, floating over the raging sea," which sets the tone for the rest of the song. The "cork" is a metaphor for the person in the song, who feels lost in the vastness of the world and unsure of their place in it. The ocean and raging sea represent the uncertainties and challenges of life.

In the next verse, we see the tree as a metaphor for the person's life. In their youth, they were "planted in the ground" and full of life. They experienced joy and happiness, just as the tree "danced in the morning breeze." But as they grew older, the dark clouds of life appeared on the horizon. The good times were behind them, and they realized that they were slowly wilting away, just like the tree.

The chorus of the song is particularly powerful. It repeats the line, "I feel the sorrow, oh I feel dreamy," which sums up the emotions that the person is feeling. They are sad and depressed about their own mortality, but they are also reflective and contemplative. They are dreaming of what could have been and what's to come.

The song continues with more beautiful metaphors and poetic language. The person sees themselves as a bird flying over the tree, looking down on their own life. They see themselves as a river flowing towards the sea, which represents death. They are "tired and weary" and ready to let go.

Throughout the song, the music itself reinforces the emotions that the lyrics are expressing. The melody is melancholy and haunting, with an almost ethereal quality to it. The instrumentation is simple, with just a piano and some strings, which adds to the sense of intimacy and vulnerability in the song.

A Day In The Life Of A Tree is a beautiful and moving song that captures the essence of what it means to be alive. It reminds us that life is fleeting and that we should cherish every moment that we have. It's a song that will make you stop and think, and it's a true masterpiece of songwriting.

So if you haven't heard it yet, give A Day In The Life Of A Tree a listen. You won't be disappointed.

• Release Date: August 30, 1971
• Artist: The Beach Boys