Tree Rings

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of a primal, almost mythic forest setting, where time is measured not in years, but in the rings of trees. The opening lines evoke a sense of destruction and transformation, with axes felling ancient trees and a mysterious "doorway" opening into shadow. This sets a tone of entering a new, perhaps dangerous, phase, marked by the act of counting "a thousand tree rings." The central tension seems to lie between the tangible, destructive forces of the past (the felling of trees) and a more ethereal, dreamlike present or future. The imagery shifts from the physical "axes' swings" to the symbolic "swallows" and their wings, suggesting a transition from harsh reality to a more imaginative state. The repetition of "counted, oh we counted" emphasizes a deliberate, almost ritualistic engagement with this passage of time. The craft here hinges on potent, often contrasting imagery. The "dark wood barked" and "yew buried floor" create a sense of deep, ancient nature, while the "memory of water" and "sea unwalked" introduce vast, unexplored potential. The phrase "axe never swung" in the second verse is particularly striking, suggesting a realm of possibility or a past that has been deliberately avoided or transcended, even as the "battle was won." Ultimately, these lyrics resonate through their evocation of deep time and the human impulse to mark it, even in the face of destruction. The "time of dreaming" arriving alongside "a million moons" and "a thousand tree rings" suggests a profound connection between natural cycles, memory, and the subconscious. It's a powerful, almost mystical meditation on how we process history and enter new phases of existence.