Expert: Grace Walker - 7/17/2006

Question
The Dreaming Tree is my all time favorite song, like, ever. But I'm kindof stuck on the meaning, I think it's about the death of innocence and imagination as we age. Do you know anything else about The Dreaming Tree?

Answer
Hey Max P.!

I, too, am totally in love with this song.  To me, the meaning of this song surrounds death in general.  The Dreaming Tree itself seems like it signifies different things to different people.  It's a sad and dark song and made me think.  Dave talks about killing himself when he says if he had the strength too he'd leave us up to our own devices.  It has the feeling of how everything can hit rock bottom before you know it.  Like the old man, he was a boy and the tree meant everything to him and then progression took the tree.  And then the girl, she's famous and everyone loves her and then things hit rock bottom.  It makes you think about when everything was good and there wasn't anything wrong...like when you were a kid.

I hope that all made since, I was listening to the song as I wrote it.  I think that the song could mean different things for different people...I once was talking to someone about I'll Back You Up and they thought it was a great love song and wanted to dedicate it to their significant other...to me that song is about after the break up and how you still love the person and would still do whatever they needed from you.  

Anyway...I'm rambling.  I hope I helped and I apologize for the late response.

Grace