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Fruit Tree Lyrics
Fame is but a fruit tree
So very unsound
It can never flourish
'till its stalk is in the ground
So men of fame
Can never find a way
'til time has flown
Far from their dying day
Forgotten while you're here
Remembered for a while
A much updated ruin
From a much outdated style
Life is but a memory
Happened long ago
Theatre full of sadness
For a long forgotten show
Seems so easy
Just to let it go on by
'til you stop and wonder
Why you never wondered why
Safe in the womb
Of an everlasting night
You find that darkness can
Give the brightest light
Safe in your place deep in the earth
That's when they'll know what you were really worth
Forgotten while you're here
Remembered for a while
A much updated ruin
From a much outdated style
Fame is but a fruit tree
So very unsound
It can never flourish
'til its stalk is in the ground
So men of fame
Can never find a way
'til time has flown
Far from their dying day
Fruit tree, Fruit tree
No one knows you but the rain and the air
Don't you worry
They'll stand and stare when you're gone
Fruit tree, Fruit tree
Open your eyes to another year
They'll all know
That you were here when you're gone
So very unsound
It can never flourish
'till its stalk is in the ground
So men of fame
Can never find a way
'til time has flown
Far from their dying day
Remembered for a while
A much updated ruin
From a much outdated style
Happened long ago
Theatre full of sadness
For a long forgotten show
Seems so easy
Just to let it go on by
'til you stop and wonder
Why you never wondered why
Of an everlasting night
You find that darkness can
Give the brightest light
Safe in your place deep in the earth
That's when they'll know what you were really worth
Forgotten while you're here
Remembered for a while
A much updated ruin
From a much outdated style
So very unsound
It can never flourish
'til its stalk is in the ground
So men of fame
Can never find a way
'til time has flown
Far from their dying day
No one knows you but the rain and the air
Don't you worry
They'll stand and stare when you're gone
Open your eyes to another year
They'll all know
That you were here when you're gone
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totally love this song...it's completly amazing. kind of spooky too...he sort of predicted his own death...weird huh..? the line " Fame is but a fruit tree So very unsound It can never flourish 'till its stalk is in the ground " is about how you never get much publicity until you're dead...sad but true...this line often reminds of the marilyn manson line " the death of one is a tragedy, but the death of one is a tragedy..."
There is a reason Heath Ledger was "obsessed" with Nick Drake. This song goes a long way to explaining the dark outlook on fame that both men had in common.
I've always read the line as "'til its stock is in the ground" - i.e when the fruit that has not sold is plowed back into the earth (to function as fertilizer, effectively). This would be in keeping with the metaphor.
And the way Nick Drake pronounces 'stock' is in keeping with his educated accent: to hear 'stalk' would give him an American lilt.
Anyone agree?
@johnny6666 it's definitely stock. You're right. There's a picture of his handwritten lyrics to this song and he wrote stock.
@johnny6666 it's definitely stock. You're right. There's a picture of his handwritten lyrics to this song and he wrote stock.
This song is amazing.
mansons lyric "the death of one is a tragedy but death of a million is just a statistic" is a quote from stalin (ussr arsehole in cheif) i think - correct me if im wrong. i love nick drake - folky, mystical, ambient, absoluetly stunning
one word to describe this song - beautiful.
there is nothing more.
simply beautiful.
I think this is my favourite Nick Drake song - and it's not like it's any easy choice.
Simply beautiful and very meaningful. I love it.
i heard a version by Tom Barman and Guy Van Nueten, is really beautiful.
Its truly amazing scary and magestic... This song doesnt predict anything as preminition or fluke it shows off the intelligence of Nick Drake. He knew what he did was amazing because he loved his music so much and he realised that eventually it will come forward. The irony of the situation is the car commericial is the thing that dug his talents out his grave.
Wouldnt it be funny if the song is just about a fruit tree?
It's about the fear of being forgotten and being invisible in a universe of stars. It's a painful truth to know that people are remembered and treasured moreso after death than in life. Sometimes it takes the absence of something for you to realize it's missing and that you cherished it all that time it was still here. Don't take people for granted because when they're gone you'll finally realize there's a hole in your life. Nick Drake's way with words and painting pictures through imagery are amazing.