A Mark In Time
Previous Albums => Privateering (2012) => Topic started by: RAc on August 21, 2012, 01:37:53 PM
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Hi there,
we've had a discussion on the German subforum which we'd like clarification on from native speakers:
The German common term for Redbud Tree is "Judasbaum" which literally translated is "Judas tree." According to wikipedia, the term "Judas tree" (named after a legend in which Judas took shelter under such a tree) most commonly is associated with the European version of Cercis (the botanic term), the American species of which is normally referred to as simply redbud.
Now if Mark had had an association with Judas tree when writing "Redbud tree," it would certainly add a different dimension to the tune as well as some food for thought. Thus the question: Would native speakers of (in this case in particular American) English expect to have biblical connotations when talking about redbud trees? Needless to say, the fact that Mark is a European English native speaker as well as a very well read individual makes the question even more interesting, but I believe that in his song writing, he would take the perspective of the character so intimate that he may very well shun out his own associations with it and focus on whatever the character would associate with it.
Thanks for responding!
Btw, I'm new here & a refugee from the markknopfler.com forum which is currently being evicted against the outspoken will of its tenants... I've looked into some of the discussions here and found that the crowd here is apparently as cool as the one in the "red page area." Looking forward to discussing things with you!
Edit: The original stimulation for this interpretation is courtesy of user chris.
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Hi RAc, and yes, that's what I thought, too, when I looked up the German translation of Redbud Tree. As you say, only a native English speaker will be able to clarify this - but it does sound very much like a "Mark" idea. There's much more in his songwriting than hits the (uneducated) eye ...
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Somewhere I posted something about the religious connection too. But it's not the case. It's about the Civil War.
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Somewhere I posted something about the religious connection too. But it's not the case. It's about the Civil War.
True, but those two interpretations are not necessarily mutually exclusive... the question is, WOULD an American (or more precisely, an American who lived during the times of the civil war) think about Judas when sitting under a redbud tree?
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The question which came to my mind was:
Judas betrayed Jesus.
The person in question in the song was searching for shelter under a Judas-Tree (Redbud Tree) which - by this name - is not a synonym for shelter and protection
Would be interesting, which kryptical thoughts of MK stand behind the choice of that tree (he could have choosen numbers of different ones) or if this is just coincidence??
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I'm 120% sure it's no coincidence. As far as I can tell, coincidence is not exactly something Mark is in love with. He knows very well what he's doing.
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Maybe it just rhymed the way he needed? By the way, welcome, once again to all new mkcom orphans!
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Maybe it just rhymed the way he needed?
That doesn't sound like MK
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Wolfgang Holzer
Austria
The title "Redbud Tree" is very interesting. I didn
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Thats the good thing about MK songs, he always leaves space to us to interpretate his songs...
I always wondered what "You and your friend" was talking about ;D
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Threesome?
LE
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Threesome?
LE
Beyond my wildest dreams ;D ;D
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Background stories I would like to know include "Everybody Pays" and "Let's See You". And "When it Comes to You" of course, but that one's fairly obvious.
But to come back to the lovely redbud tree: He chose it just because it rhymes? ;D Come on, there must be a thousand trees that rhyme with "shelter me"!
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For me that song is like an apethyzer, it sounds beautiful but short, incomplete... Like a intro for another story...