Adrian

This song is so sad, first time I heard it I thought Adrian was a girl, but I read the lyrics and he was hung from the apple tree, with his son watching, and he's giving some last advice, nearly made me cry

This is written as the dying words of a man to his son. Probably the one of the saddest songs I've yet to hear.

does anyone know what exactly this song is about? i know that mason often writes about historical figures, and i was just wondering whether the narrator was fictional or not. certain things, like the name adrian and the way he says "we" dont fear death instead of "i" or "you," makes me wonder.

I think this song is based after a black man being Lynched or somthing because Mason's next album had alot to do with The Civil Rights movement (the songs "Doctor King" and "Black Panther") and that may be why he said "We" instread of "I"

Does he sing "we"? I never actually heard that. Sounds more like he just starts with "Don't fear death..." etc.

When I hear this song, I see a father deciding to hang himself when his son comes outside and sees it. He begins this lament, this passing of advice, as comfort for his son and as justification for his suicide. I'm not sure I can cite specifics that make me see that, but it's just what comes to mind.

The Civil Rights idea makes sense to me in principle, but I just don't see anything in this song to specifically indicate that. It's probably more geared toward this specific situation, and not a greater historical occurrence.

To me, this song is a reflections of an African American man before he is being hanged in front a mob and his son, Adrian. Mason Jennings has said that this song was inspired by the book, Beloved, written by Toni Morrison. Writing from this standpoint, I think that he refers to "we" as African Americans. This song is so powerful...that there is hope in the future and that understanding and forgiveness are much more important than ignorance and blind hate.

Rager, I agree that it is a very sad song... But at the same time, it is "empowering." It lifts me up and helps me to remember.

If he is being hanged by a mob, why is he up in the tree? It seems to me that he is sitting on a branch ready to hang himself.. But if that's the case, why are his hands tied?

Maybe these things are just symbols for something else... His looking down is that it is by his own choice to end his life, but with his hands being "tied" it is as a result of something else that brought him to this point.

What does the line mean about being on the bottom and the boat?

I think there is a bit more to this song than we are seeing.

There is a whole lot of information in those lyrics that should be included in our opinion.

FYI, I don't think it's a black man being hanged. That's a bit fast to jump to that conclusion, now isn't it.

If we want this song to have meaning, we should learn not to fear death. The wisdom of the person being hung is that fears is where all hatred begins. As long as we fear death we will be fearful all of our lives...therefore hateful to one degree or another.

It truly is a sad song. I believe it is about someone being lynched as the man's hands are tied and it says 'as they set my last breath free' therefore meaning that he is being murdered. A terrible scenario which undoubtably refers to the horrific treatment experienced by African-Americans.