Rush: The Trees

Whence I gratuated from High Schrool, me and my buddies found it rather fitting that one of our all time favorite bands, Rush, came out with an album that year entitled: Farewell To Kings... There was a shred of truth that we were somewhat ignorant, rock and roll loving, ethnocentric and idealistic but it was the lyrics which grabbed us and propelled us forward... Onto to some truly great days and stout achievements.

Hope and enlightenment are where you find them, and I found both in the lyrics of this great band which still rocks to this day...

Rock on and don't tread on me!

There is unrest in the forest,
There is trouble with the trees,
For the maples want more sunlight
And the oaks ignore their pleas.

The trouble with the maples,
(And they're quite convinced they're right)
They say the oaks are just too lofty
And they grab up all the light.
But the oaks can't help their feelings
If they like the way they're made.
And they wonder why the maples
Can't be happy in their shade?

There is trouble in the Forest
And the creatures all have fled
As the Maples scream 'Oppression!'
And the Oaks, just shake their heads

So the maples formed a union
And demanded equal rights.
'These oaks are just too greedy;
We will make them give us light.'
Now there's no more oak oppression,
For they passed a noble law,
And the trees are all kept equal
By hatchet,
Ax,
And saw.

Rush - The Trees (released in October 1978)

No doubt, we are kept down with hatchet, ax and saw!
This great parable vividly illustrates through music and lyrics how the small people, the looters, with small mystical minds, continue to force those graced and armed with knowledge (and wealth) gained through rational thought to bend to the collective will of those who are not worthy, resorting to violence rather than reason to have their way. The song asks an age-old question: Which are you? The noble oak, or a weak maple whining about fairness and demanding an equality of outcomes, rather than bettering yourself through improved photosynthesis and nutrient gathering?

It is no coincidence that Rush's Neil Peart wrote this song as he (and the band) are Canadians and the maple, national tree of Canada, represents Peart's dissatisfaction his socialist-minded homeland. Alas, the same could be said now for America...

The great bald eagle now seems to change colors with the seasons...

donttreadonme @ OnTheBorderLine