A Day In The Life Of A Tree

[Disney Boy (1985)]

it's in tom nolan's 2 part beach boy article in rolling stone from 1971.

Replies like this always bug me. To save everyone having to trawl through the net finding said article, couldn't you have just given us a brief question-answering summary. Sorry, end of moan.

Like a lot of Surf's Up, ADITLOAT is massively under-rated and i've always adored it since my very first listen!

[Andrew G. Doe]

Where do Al and VDP sings? I recognize JR's and Brian's voice in the song. . .

VDP - "Trees like me weren't meant to live/If all this earth can give..." and so on.

ACJ - "Oh lord I lay me down/My branches to the ground..." etc.

[Runaways]

who's doing that "dah daaah da daaaah"

i used to think it was brian, but i guess al can sound like brian a lot on that stuff. eh?

[I. Spaceman]

it's in tom nolan's 2 part beach boy article in rolling stone from 1971.

Replies like this always bug me. To save everyone having to trawl through the net finding said article, couldn't you have just given us a brief question-answering summary. Sorry, end of moan.

Like a lot of Surf's Up, ADITLOAT is massively under-rated and i've always adored it since my very first listen!

Or one could, if they are interested in the history of The Beach Boys and discussing same, purchase and read this indispensable book:

http://www.amazon.com/Back-Beach-Brian-Wilson-Reader/dp/1900924463

[SG7]

it's in tom nolan's 2 part beach boy article in rolling stone from 1971.

Replies like this always bug me. To save everyone having to trawl through the net finding said article, couldn't you have just given us a brief question-answering summary. Sorry, end of moan.

Like a lot of Surf's Up, ADITLOAT is massively under-rated and i've always adored it since my very first listen!

That by the way is a great book! Should be in the essential list for fans.

Or one could, if they are interested in the history of The Beach Boys and discussing same, purchase and read this indispensable book:

http://www.amazon.com/Back-Beach-Brian-Wilson-Reader/dp/1900924463

[UK_Surf]

If VDP had done the lyrics for this, rather than sang on it, and if Reilly had just...gone away...or done something productive like get donuts and redi-whip...then this would have been a stormer.

To me, the lyrics are highschool at best, so desperate not to be taken literally that it's really just best for all concerned to go ahead and take them literally.

But for all that, it's a special, infuriating track for me. Its production, its exquisite musical nuance and texture, and its devastating tag are among the best the BBs have ever produced. And the underlying tragedy of competing interests - be they genuinely collaborative or selfish - and/or BW's self-destructive tendencies are bolted onto the track like neon haemorrhoid cream adverts on Bath Abbey.

But it remains an open question, an ambivalent and intriguing track, to these ears.

[pixletwin]

If VDP had done the lyrics for this, rather than sang on it, and if Reilly had just...gone away...or done something productive like get donuts and redi-whip...then this would have been a stormer.

To me, the lyrics are highschool at best, so desperate not to be taken literally that it's really just best for all concerned to go ahead and take them literally.

But for all that, it's a special, infuriating track for me. Its production, its exquisite musical nuance and texture, and its devastating tag are among the best the BBs have ever produced. And the underlying tragedy of competing interests - be they genuinely collaborative or selfish - and/or BW's self-destructive tendencies are bolted onto the track like neon haemorrhoid cream adverts on Bath Abbey.

But it remains an open question, an ambivalent and intriguing track, to these ears.

Speaking of writing like "highschool"..... 

[SBonilla]

If VDP had done the lyrics for this, rather than sang on it,

he would have mulched the poor thing.

[UK_Surf]

Yeah, my yearbook was loaded with pretentious crap like that 

[Wild-Honey]

To me, Jack's voice is so wonderfully melancholic, he is the tree.   I wouldn't want it any other way than how it is.  Having said that, it breaks my heart so much to listen to it that I rarely do.

[Catbirdman]

Yeah, my yearbook was loaded with pretentious crap like that 

Well, I thought your summary of your reaction to the song was very well-considered and insightful, as are all of your posts. And what's more, it articulated my own personal struggles with the song much better than I ever could. So I felt it behooved me to chime in with my support.

The only thing worse than being pretentious is being paralyzed because you're so afraid of being pretentious, and in the end saying nothing.

[pixletwin]

The only thing worse than being pretentious is being paralyzed because you're so afraid of being pretentious, and in the end saying nothing.

Very true. I should point out that my comment was tongue in cheek. I guess a smilie should have accompanied it.

[UK_Surf]

Cheers Pete - and no worries SBonilla - I'm enjoying reading the responses to this weird & glorious tune.

[SBonilla]

Cheers Pete - and no worries SBonilla - I'm enjoying reading the responses to this weird & glorious tune.

Likewise.

[Myk Luhv]

If there is any song deserving of a vocals-only mix, it's this one -- that tag is magnificent! The original LP is totally quad-channel surround mixed too, right? That and "Til I Die" must be a trip to hear that way!

[Jay]

A Day In The Life Of A Tree is a lot like Child Is Father Of The Man, only with a bare bones production  and raw bare naked honesty.

[Andrew G. Doe]

If there is any song deserving of a vocals-only mix, it's this one -- that tag is magnificent! The original LP is totally quad-channel surround mixed too, right? That and "Til I Die" must be a trip to hear that way!

Correct.