The Smiley Smile Message Board

Please excuse the overblown thread title but have always adored this track.

And listening this evening was struck - it works on so many levels.

It’s deeply sad.

Yet if the backstory is to be believed, the haunting Rieley vocal was a BW prank. So the song oscillates between being incredibly moving, yet kind of goofball, throwaway comedy in typical BW fashion. And for me it really manages to contain both those emotional extremes simultaneously which is mindblowing!

It’s autobiographical “trees like me weren’t meant to live” - that’s a metaphor for Brian’s own experience right?!

Yet also timeless and pertinent in its environmental message.

And the backing track, harmonies etc (for me) is as beautiful as anything he ever wrote. The isolated track on Feel Flows floors me every time.

Love this one.
Whenever it is mentioned, I am compelled to share that I find the tag to Tree more moving than the more fashionable sister track if you will, Til I Die.

Never found the lead vocal off putting, but a Dennis or Brian sang version could have been even more moving if that is possible. Al is wonderful on the tag also.

Agreed, the tag is sublime. Peak BW for me.  Would also love to hear a vocal by one of the boys but think Brian made an inspired call keeping Rieley on there.

Should have researched this more before posting and therefore are perhaps not giving others involved due credit on this track.

Rieley’s lyrics are perfect. Whether he consciously tried to evoke Brian’s own situation, who knows, but the poignancy is inesacable.

Stephen Desper realised much of the sound of the track, including choice of pipe organ and , and it seems the idea to ‘trick’ Rieley into singing lead was a group effort, as none of the others wanted to sing it.

Would love to here more from Mr Desper on this. Perhaps he’s commented previously on here?