3 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A
A Tree Too Weak To Stand Lyrics
I see a place where candles burn and lovers rest tonight
The hollow sound inside me now keeps telling me to write
But songs of love will never leave love's feelings undefiled
The tide has turned, the waves roll in, the waters fill my eyes
The price of lust has risen till the ceiling will not stand
The tears I shed were not in shame, the world was in my hands
If trust was just a simple thing then trusting I would be
But deep within my soul I know it's better to be free
The days fly by, the waves roll in, but freedom has not come
I fear my faith will soon give out, my senses come undone
My role is played, the demon dogs come stealin' o'er land
And foolish I would climb once more a tree too weak to stand
I see a place where candles burn and lovers rest tonight
The hollow sound inside me now keeps telling me to write
But songs of love should not be sung where staying is not planned
And foolish I would climb once more a tree too weak to stand
And foolish I would climb once more a tree too weak to stand
The hollow sound inside me now keeps telling me to write
But songs of love will never leave love's feelings undefiled
The tide has turned, the waves roll in, the waters fill my eyes
The price of lust has risen till the ceiling will not stand
The tears I shed were not in shame, the world was in my hands
If trust was just a simple thing then trusting I would be
But deep within my soul I know it's better to be free
I fear my faith will soon give out, my senses come undone
My role is played, the demon dogs come stealin' o'er land
And foolish I would climb once more a tree too weak to stand
The hollow sound inside me now keeps telling me to write
But songs of love should not be sung where staying is not planned
And foolish I would climb once more a tree too weak to stand
And foolish I would climb once more a tree too weak to stand
Song Info
Submitted by
butneveroutgunned On May 27, 2006
More Gordon Lightfoot
If You Could Read My Mind
Sundown
The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald
Carefree Highway
Summer Side Of Life
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
I think this song was written about the same woman who inspired Lightfoot to write Sundown, which spoke of his intense jealousy when she went out. Here he’s processing the end of the relationship and telling himself he’d be foolish to go back, I.e., “climb a tree too weak to stand”. He’s also aware of the irony of him penning love songs when he feels he’s defiled love with lust (been unfaithful?) and thus it’s better for him to be free instead of being monogamous. He owns up to his own choices, saying he wasn’t shamed by the world, alternatively, the world was in his hands. A honest assessment by the songwriter at a certain moment in his life.
I wonder if this isn't a song about the shallowness of finding lovers on the road who vest themselves in him even though he knows he's moving on? Perhaps he says whatever they want to hear to get them in bed when he knows he'll hurt them emotionally. I interpret the women as "the tree(s) too weak to stand" and they get crushed but he also gets crushed because of the long term damage he"s doing to his soul by lying time and again.
Plus he might get herpes...ha ha ha
@wearly89 tree too week to stand is the port grieving about a wife who was unfaithful. "the tears I shed were not in shane-its better to be free" his refuge is writing songs of unrequited love but these songs never leave his feelings short or undefiled. they are "a tree too week to stand' not a one night stand as you suggest. he's trying to express his feelings but the demon dogs chase him and his faith weekend and he fears he will go insane from grief. another song expresses this "the same old Obsesion" where the creatures of evil have...
@wearly89 tree too week to stand is the port grieving about a wife who was unfaithful. "the tears I shed were not in shane-its better to be free" his refuge is writing songs of unrequited love but these songs never leave his feelings short or undefiled. they are "a tree too week to stand' not a one night stand as you suggest. he's trying to express his feelings but the demon dogs chase him and his faith weekend and he fears he will go insane from grief. another song expresses this "the same old Obsesion" where the creatures of evil have captured the heart of his love.
@wearly89 Go ask Gordon, I guess. I like my theory better.
@wearly89 Go ask Gordon, I guess. I like my theory better.
Hmmm, a lot here is very quotable... Gonna have to think of a few lines for situations I encounter:
If trust was such a simple thing, then trusting I would be...
Love songs should not be sung where staying is not planned...
Foolishly climb a tree to weak to stand...
-- Dave