Tires type black
Where the blacktop cracks
Weeds spark through
Dark green enough to be blue
When the mysteries we believe in
Aren't dreamed enough to be true
Some side with the leaves
Some side with the seeds

The treetops nod
The rain applauds
The park grows dark
And the swings all slowly die
But you and I will be undefeated
By agreeing to disagree
No one wins but the thieves
So why side with anything?

The streetlights glow
Comes and goes
When the sun comes back
As we all can plainly see
Embracing the situation
Is our only chance to be free
Oh, I'll side with you
If you side with me


Lyrics submitted by sha_sha

Side with the Seeds Lyrics as written by Mikael Jorgensen Jeffrey Scot Tweedy

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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Side With The Seeds song meanings
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11 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    Listening to the line of "when the mysteries we believe in aren't dreamed enough to be true, some side with the leaves, some side with the seeds," I think it's about your outlook on life. When your dreams don't come true in the way you expect them to, do you see the glass half empty (side with the leaves, or see what is dead), or do you see the glass as half full (side with the seeds, and choose to see what is alive)?

    NorthWriteron June 20, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think this song is about staying true to your convictions, especially when they are challenged, and if you don't, there is not much meaning in your life.

    In the first two stanzas the opening lines relate to a coming storm and we can see the writers reaction to the storm in that:

    1. If what you believe in "isn't dreamed enough to be true" it doesn't matter which side you are on.

    2. If you don't take sides, "no one wins but the thieves".

    In the third stanza the storm is over and one can see with more clarity ("When the sun comes back As we all can plainly see") that the only way to be free........is by taking a sides.

    As a musical note, is there any other guitarist out there who can play with such agility and quickness, and come off emotional rather than technical and cold?? Yeah Nels! I can't wait to see them again!

    rossaon December 24, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    my favorite song so far on Sky Blue Sky. it was the only track that really hit me the first time i heard it...with jeff's yearning voice dramatically opening and nel's awesome guitar solo. this song is a wilco classic

    willcomplyon April 08, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is one of my favorite songs thus far on Sky Blue Sky. I love the piano. This was the first song to really get my attention on this album.

    MNTwinsfanon May 20, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love Jeff's vocal delivery on this song...very Otis Redding-like. Probably my favorite song on the album so far.

    As for the meaning, it seems like a pretty straightforward musing on ambiguity and perspective. I love the lazy imagery of the city street and the playground, and the day/night motif. That last verse line really strikes me..."When the sun comes back/As we all can plainly see."

    thermo4on May 23, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The lyrics seem more observational than as a big fat statement. Anyway, first verse seems to tackle how people approach religion. The second and third verses are more relationship oriented and a reflection on a problem two people may be facing...perhaps an argument over religion, where the singer can't accept whatever his lover accepts.

    supposablethumbson August 10, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    In the second verse, Jeff is showing two people who are so stubborn that they both take satisfaction in "being undefeated" - they agree to disagree - so they're both right.

    By the end of the song, they get over their differences. They embrace the situation and side with each other, rather than standing on principle.

    It is such a beautiful song, regardless. Its worth going to amazon.com, typing in Wilco, and watching the video.

    charlesaldenon August 31, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    When I first heard this song, I thought about the mention of leaves in another Wilco song, Ashes of American Flags: "All the fallen leaves, are filling up shopping carts."

    Because I heard Ashes in the aftermath of September 11, I visualized "fallen leaves" to be victims jumping out of the Twin Towers. In that same vein, I listen to this song and think about our war in Iraq. (Actually, Iraq had nothing to do with what happened on 9/11, but that is another discussion.)

    Should we side with the "leaves" (the fallen), or side with the "seeds" we've sown in the world that caused people to hate Americans so much that all of this happened in the first place.

    All of the other imagery in this song reminds me of the ordinary things of everyday American Life that we take for granted. Seeds or leaves? I don't know what the answer is, but whatever those terrorists wanted to accomplish with 9/11, they have caused discord and in-fighting among Americans. No one wins but the thieves.

    It might have nothing to do with the artist's intention, but that is what I think about when I listen to this song. It is an audio Rorschach ink-blot.

    disparatehousewifeon May 15, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    When I first heard this song, I thought about the mention of leaves in another Wilco song, Ashes of American Flags: "All the fallen leaves, are filling up shopping carts."

    Because I heard Ashes in the aftermath of September 11, I visualized "fallen leaves" to be victims jumping out of the Twin Towers. In that same vein, I listen to this song and think about our war in Iraq. (Actually, Iraq had nothing to do with what happened on 9/11, but that is another discussion.)

    Should we side with the "leaves" (the fallen), or side with the "seeds" we've sown in the world that caused people to hate Americans so much that all of this happened in the first place.

    All of the other imagery in this song reminds me of the ordinary things of everyday American Life that we take for granted. Seeds or leaves? I don't know what the answer is, but whatever those terrorists wanted to accomplish with 9/11, they have caused discord and in-fighting among Americans. No one wins but the thieves.

    It might have nothing to do with the artist's intention, but that is what I think about when I listen to this song. It is an audio Rorschach ink-blot.

    disparatehousewifeon May 15, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love WILCO but I've made an observation I'd like to share. Jeff is a shrwed pop song writer who takes cues from other successful pop songs. I often listen to a WILCO song and hear another song underneath as an inspiration or 'loving' rip off. When I hear 'Side with the Seeds" I hear ProcolHarum's "Something's Following Me". I hear it in the overall vibe and even in bits of melody. You tube it and see for yourself. Either way... it's all great music.

    cosmolineon November 08, 2010   Link

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