The Mountain Goats

Black Pear Tree

2 Meanings

Add Yours

Q&A

Black Pear Tree Lyrics

I dug a hole and filled it up with compost
Rested on the cool grass for a minute
I saw the future in a dream last night
There’s nothing in it

I set the sapling in the hole
Started gently tapping down the dirt
I saw the future in a dream last night

Somebody’s gonna get hurt, somebody’s gonna get hurt
I hope it’s not me
But I suspect it’s going to have to be

I dug my heels in for the winter
And I waited for the snow
But something was stuck up in the clouds
Something was stuck up there
It couldn’t let go

And when its time came I could see it happen
Blossoms black and sweet as Texas crude
I saw the future flowering like a ruptured vessel
Somebody’s gonna get screwed
It won’t be me
Someday I am going to walk out of here free

Submitted by

carnac44 On Oct 24, 2008

The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton

Lyrics saved successfully! Thanks!

These lyrics are currently locked and can only be edited by moderators and administrators.

You must be logged in to edit lyrics.

Unable to save lyrics. Please try again.

Lyrics cannot contain links.

Lyric edit submitted successfully and is pending approval. Approvals usually take 24 hours.

Keep it true to the song

Fix what’s wrong, but don’t rewrite what the artist wrote. Stick to the official released version — album booklet, label site, verified lyric video, etc. If you’re guessing, pause and double-check.

Respect the structure

Songs have rhythm. Pages do too. Leave line breaks where they belong. Don’t smash things together or add extra empty space just for looks.

Punctuation counts (but vibe-editing doesn’t)

Correct typos? Yes. Re-punctuating a whole verse because it ‘looks better’? Probably not. Keep capitalization and punctuation close to the official source.

Don’t mix versions

If you’re editing the explicit version, keep it explicit. If it’s the clean version, keep it clean. No mashups.

Let the lyrics be lyrics

This isn’t the place for interpretations, memories, stories, or trivia — that’s what comments are for. Keep metadata, translations, and bracketed stage directions out unless they’re officially part of the song.

Edit lightly

If two lines are wrong… fix the two lines. No need to bulldoze the whole page. Think ‘surgical,’ not ‘remix.’

When in doubt, ask the crowd

Not sure what they’re singing in that fuzzy bridge? Drop a question in the comments and let the music nerds swarm. Someone always knows.

carnac44

Submitter

2008-10-24 23:14:56

2 Meanings

Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.

Sort by

Cover art for Black Pear Tree lyrics by Mountain Goats, The

by ABookOnAShelf

17y ago

When he played this last night he said "I have two convictions. For one, I'm a hypochondriac. That's one conviction. The other is that I really am usually sick and about to die, and those of you who don't believe me are all assholes." and then he talked about being in Sweden and getting weird chest pains and being convinced it was cancer, and going to the emergency room and sitting there watching tv and writing this song. It was really great because the only light was on him for the first half, and Kaki sort of sneaked onstage for the second half. I really want this EP.

Users:

Reply · 0 Share

by MrDelirious

17y ago

Ah, poor John. Guy needs to take some iron supplements or something. At the last show I went to he says to us, he says:

"It's uncommon for me to make it through a whole show without complaining of some physical ailment. I haven't done so tonight, but let me assure you: I am in excruciating pain."

I love this song. Can't wait for the EP to be available on iTunes.

Users:

Reply · 0 Share

Questions and Answers

Ask specific questions and get answers to unlock more indepth meanings & facts.