Redbud Tree Lyrics

[Love Expresso]

My try: 

Hunted down I came upon
a place of ferns and grass
gathered to a Redbud Tree
and now their footsteps pass
where I crouch and dread discovery
my certain death early's reaching for my head
as i suspend my breath

Redbud Tree shelter me shelter me
Redbud Tree shelter me shelter me

(guitar solo) 

those days of fear are gone
yet i am pledged to her
as to my only one
my lovely protecteur
Redbud Tree shelter me shelter me
Redbud Tree shelter me shelter me


Red marks the lines where I am uncertain.


Seems to be set in the American civil war times. Maybe a slave has been protected by a Southern (french influenced) lady ("protecteur"). (Reminds me of Dylan's "come in she said I give you shelter from the storm") At least this is the first lyrical level to me. I am sure there are some more levels. Please correct me when you think this is totally wrong...

LE

[Banjo99uk]

Just posted this in the other post.

Hunted down I came upon
A place of ferns and grass
Gathered to a redbud tree
And now there footsteps pass
Where i crouch in dread
Discovery my certain death
Something? reaching for my hand
As i suspend my breath

Redbud tree shelter me shelter me etc

Those days of fear are gone
Yet i am pledged to her
As to my  only one
My lovely protector
Redbud tree shelter me etc

[Love Expresso]

 

You forgot the guitar solo! 

LE

[border_reiver]

And the footstomp in the intro

*thud thud thud thud*

 

[jerrymb]

Hi new here! Can someone upload the new song to Youtube?

[Love Expresso]

I am pretty sure after several listenings (and I pretty much hope) that this is really an edited version - for me there is some lyrics missing after the first paragraph and before the guitar solo. I bet there is another verse before the solo, so that we maybe will be able to understand where the lady suddenly came from!  

Btw, I would also bet that these footstomps are a kicking bass drum?

Did I say already that I LOVE this song? It has a proper intro, lyrics with a deeper meaning, a phantastic guitar solo as only MK can deliver and a nice ending. Just imagine that the next song on the album then will be Haul Away. How much bliss can one man stand!

LE

[Love Expresso]

Hi new here! Can someone upload the new song to Youtube?

Hi!

Sorry, but certainly not!

LE

[shangri la 1]

My 2nd try at the Lyrics

REDBUD TREE (Mark Knopfler)
Redbud Tree

Hunted down, I came upon
A place of ferns and grass
Gathered to a redbud tree
And now their footsteps pass
Where I crouch in dread
Discovery my certain death
Her leaves reaching for my head
As I suspend my breath

Redbud tree, shelter me, shelter me
Redbud tree, shelter me, shelter me

Those days of fear are gone
Yet I am pledged to her
As to my only one
My lovely protector

Redbud tree, shelter me, shelter me
Redbud tree, shelter me, shelter me
Redbud tree, shelter me, shelter me
Redbud tree, shelter me, shelter me

[Banjo99uk]

I am pretty sure after several listenings (and I pretty much hope) that this is really an edited version - for me there is some lyrics missing after the first paragraph and before the guitar solo. I bet there is another verse before the solo, so that we maybe will be able to understand where the lady suddenly came from!  

Btw, I would also bet that these footstomps are a kicking bass drum?

Did I say already that I LOVE this song? It has a proper intro, lyrics with a deeper meaning, a phantastic guitar solo as only MK can deliver and a nice ending. Just imagine that the next song on the album then will be Haul Away. How much bliss can one man stand!

LE

You are right, their must be a verse missing for the radio edit.

[border_reiver]

j
Burr leaves reaching for my head (hat)
j

Some googling suggests "bur leaves"...

[koobaa]

I am pretty sure after several listenings (and I pretty much hope) that this is really an edited version - for me there is some lyrics missing after the first paragraph and before the guitar solo. I bet there is another verse before the solo, so that we maybe will be able to understand where the lady suddenly came from! 

LE, I think you're right with the missing verse between the first one and the solo. I also like your track with the slave story. Not sure about the lady though. He may be referring "Her" to the tree itself, as the protector. Will be interesting to hear the full version.

[shangri la 1]

Yes I like the Civil war idea. My guess is the 1st verse is during and the last one that we have is after the war?

[jbaent]

Maybe this will help with the understanding of the song (from Wikipedia):

Cercis canadensis L. (Eastern Redbud) is a large shrub or small tree native to eastern North America from Southern Ontario, Canada south to northern Florida, United States.
( )
A small tree with a sturdy upright trunk which divides into stout branches that usually spread to form a broad flat head. Found on rich bottom lands throughout the Mississippi River valley; will grow in the shade and often becomes a dense undergrowth in the forest. Very abundant in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and eastern Texas. Hardy far north; grows rapidly; is a satisfactory ornamental tree. Many trees are sterile and produce no fruit. It is also known as the Judas tree.
( )
In some parts of southern Appalachia, green twigs from the Eastern redbud are used as seasoning for wild game such as venison and opossum. Because of this, in these mountain areas the Eastern redbud is sometimes known as the spicewood tree.

In the wild, Eastern redbud is a frequent native understory tree in mixed forests and hedgerows. It is also much planted as a landscape ornamental plant. The leaves are eaten by the caterpillars of some Lepidoptera, for example the Io moth (Automeris io).

The redbud is the state tree of Oklahoma.
( )
Native Americans consumed redbud flowers raw or boiled, and ate roasted seeds. Analysis of nutritional components in edible parts of eastern redbud reported that:

the flower extract contains anthocyanins,
green developing seeds contained proanthocyanides, and
linolenic, alpha-linolenic, oleic and palmitic acids to be present in seeds.[3]

[Love Expresso]

So it is about ... drugs?? 

LE

[jbaent]

So it is about ... drugs?? 

LE

Maybe 

However, I guess the tree itself may have a symbolism in the meaning of the song.