The Getting Tree

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of a cyclical, perhaps self-imposed, existence centered around a "getting tree." The opening questions, "did you give what you wanted to give" and "did you see what you wanted to see," suggest a performance or an expectation that isn't being met, or perhaps a lack of genuine fulfillment. The narrator acknowledges a disconnect, stating "I know you can't see me" and "I close my eyes, I can't see you," highlighting a profound inability to connect or be perceived. The core tension seems to revolve around a struggle for authenticity versus conformity, or perhaps a resignation to a predetermined state. The line "Please understand we are just keeping ourselves the way want us to be" implies a deliberate choice to maintain a certain status quo, even if it leads to isolation. This internal directive clashes with the external perception, as "they don't see what they don't need" and "they can't see that we are blind," suggesting a shared blindness or a willful ignorance within the group. The most striking craft element is the surreal imagery and the juxtaposition of natural and abstract concepts. The idea of a "getting tree" itself is enigmatic, functioning as a focal point for giving and seeing, but its purpose remains elusive. The contrast between "can't swim if they can't fly" and the narrator's ability to "plant some trees and climb up to the top where I can find a hive of bees" offers a glimmer of agency and escape. This final image suggests a personal, albeit strange, path to a different perspective or a hidden world, a stark contrast to the passive, unseeing state described earlier.