This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
When I was just a lad of ten, my father said to me
"Come here and take a lesson from the lovely lemon tree"
"Don't put your faith in love, my boy", my father said to me
"I fear you'll find that love is like the lovely lemon tree"
Lemon tree very pretty and the lemon flower is sweet
But the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat
Lemon tree very pretty and the lemon flower is sweet
But the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat
One day beneath the lemon tree, my love and I did lie
A girl so sweet that when she smiled the stars rose in the sky
We passed that summer lost in love beneath the lemon tree
The music of her laughter hid my father's words from me:
Lemon tree very pretty and the lemon flower is sweet
But the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat
Lemon tree very pretty and the lemon flower is sweet
But the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat
One day she left without a word, she took away the sun
And in the dark she left behind, I knew what she had done
She'd left me for another, it's a common tale but true
A sadder man but wiser now I sing these words to you:
Lemon tree very pretty and the lemon flower is sweet
But the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat
Lemon tree very pretty and the lemon flower is sweet
But the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat
"Come here and take a lesson from the lovely lemon tree"
"Don't put your faith in love, my boy", my father said to me
"I fear you'll find that love is like the lovely lemon tree"
Lemon tree very pretty and the lemon flower is sweet
But the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat
Lemon tree very pretty and the lemon flower is sweet
But the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat
One day beneath the lemon tree, my love and I did lie
A girl so sweet that when she smiled the stars rose in the sky
We passed that summer lost in love beneath the lemon tree
The music of her laughter hid my father's words from me:
Lemon tree very pretty and the lemon flower is sweet
But the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat
Lemon tree very pretty and the lemon flower is sweet
But the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat
One day she left without a word, she took away the sun
And in the dark she left behind, I knew what she had done
She'd left me for another, it's a common tale but true
A sadder man but wiser now I sing these words to you:
Lemon tree very pretty and the lemon flower is sweet
But the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat
Lemon tree very pretty and the lemon flower is sweet
But the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat
Lyrics submitted by *meep
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
When I saw them in concert back in the 80s they sang this song, but they first apologized, saying they disagreed philosphically with the the message "Don't put your faith in love". For that reason they hadn't sung this song for many years. I remember they asked the audience to sing along, but they had fun with it, declaring that you should only join in if you're over 40: only the people over 40 could summon up the requisite bitter memories and sad wisdom (I'm paraphrasing here). We all had a good laugh.
I've seen alternate lyrics to the first verse that I think fix that problem, and actually make more sense metaphorically. (I think the Kingston Trio recorded it this way)
"My son it's most important," my father said to me "to put your faith in what you feel and not in what you see."
Better advice, I think, than "don't fall in love". Still, it doesn't quite work, because the guy in the song is clearly feeling plenty.
@Groujo <br /> <br /> I heard the kingston trio's version. I always got the meaning to be don't be blinded by the beauty of a thing. Look deeper, look for substance; not for appearances.<br /> <br /> "Fruit" according to the new testament bible is what we actually produce. So, while being lovely and beautiful; the lemon tree produces sour "fruit".
I remember in the fourth grade, My teacher made us all sit and memorize the words to this song. He said to always keep them close by, that they are the only words that matter. Man, he was a creeper.
freaky story. haha
Verbosity... you had a very very creepy teacher, I must say xD
I just recently started listening to these talented trio. Most of their songs seem very elementary and basic, but i do enjoy this song and others off their first. After listening to this I kinda grasped a new perspective, not too revolutionary.
When he speaks of the Lemon Tree, the Flowers and the Lemon, he seems to refer to a new love, the lemon tree or the relationship seems so large and beautiful, and the flower, so sweet and natural (dont know if this is a reference to women in general or maybe the reproductive organs as flowers easily resemble the fertility of a woman's vagina...But P,P&M are so innocent...hmm...) and then he continues with the lemon being impossible to eat, maybe referring to never actually being able to comprehend or really grasp the complexity of love, after when the girl is gone, and guy is left to ponder why did she leave? And the only thing he can think of is the Wise words from his father..."Lemon tree very pretty and the lemon flower is sweet, But the fruit of the poor lemon, is impossible to eat! "
Sad...love is all about risks. I read that in a fanfiction about these two teenagers in love, and the ghost of a boy they witnessed being murdered was the one who told them that. This was a risk that didn't turn out well. And that's why the father said not to put faith in love-so that the protagonist wouldn't get hurt the way he did.
This brings back such wonderful childhood memories; I recall listening to this on the car's radio. My parents would at least allow us to pick the radio station and we all loved Peter, Paul, and Mary. The song is rather depressing considering the lyrics, but when you are a child you tend to concentrate on the melody; beat; rhythm; etc. I never realized then the darkness of the song. I just always loved the trio.
An embittered man advises his son not to waste his time believing a woman will be faithful to him - like a bitter lemon she will always hurt him in the end. Interesting that the music and lyrics together are so seductive - perhaps to show the pretty and sweet wiles of a woman.
More about substance over appearance. what you "feel" is what is beneath. Trust, love, etc; The kinston trio's version plainly says, "put your faith in what you FEEL, not in what you SEE."
"feel" not so much being emotional, but the deeper things that only come to the surface with time.
The lemon tree being the basic reminder: Just because it looks good doesn't make it good.
Back in 2003, the last two lines of the chorus were part of my signature on the first forum I ever joined. I was a smug, cynical, sexually and emotionally repressed little bastard. Now, almost six years later to the day, when I hear the last chorus of this song, I picture the narrator sitting under the lemon tree with a new lover--sipping lemonade.