I wrote this song a number of years ago as a commission for a friend who wanted an original song presented during a conference on family history. This studio version has a number of "improvements" over the original, but kept with the idea of mulitple lead vocalists. We also did the original with the cello part, which "made "the song in the single live performance, and was the instrument I knew I wanted on this number.
Credits:
Big kudos to CosmicDolphin who did the mixing and mastering. This was challenging because of a pretty big dynamic range and multiple lead vocals.
Thanks to Bassic_Soul for great bass playing, to Stevie Blacke (eSession) for a beautiful cello part and to Frank Basile (
www.livestuiodrums.com) for all the drum hits. I played acoustic guitars.
My grandfather, Archie Stewart (deceased), recorded the little voice-over clip at the beginning back in 1972 about his family origins, and my granddaughter, Sydney Call, provided the little voice over at the very end.
The singers, in order of appearance, were:
- myself (Rob Talbert)
- my daughter-in-law, Kirsti Call,
- my step-son, Daniel Call, and
- my wife, Becky Talbert.
Lyrics:
We Are A Tree
words and music: Robert N. Talbert
The father of the father of my father
Cleared a farm and planted Illinois corn.
He raised a barn, and then he raised my grandfather,
Long before I was born.
V2
The mother of the mother of my mother
Carried all she owned across an open plain.
She lost a child when she was only seventeen.
Now I carry her name.
Chorus1
We are a tree, my family and me.
Branch upon branch in a spreading crown,
Roots deep under the ground,
We are a tree. We are a tree.
V3
The father of my father worked the railroad,
Told us stories of the places that he'd been.
He painted pictures of the landscapes of his childhood--
I'd like to go there with him.
V4
The children of the children of my children
Will see a world that I won't understand.
How can I reach my hand across the years to them?
Will they know who I am?
Chorus2
We are a tree,
My family and me.
1st Bridge
Storms might gather in a darkening sky
Rain might fill the air--
But after the thunder and after the wind,
We will still be standing there--
The tree, and me.
2nd Bridge
The tree is part of the forest;
I am part of the tree.
I draw strength from its branches;
It draws strength from me.
Chorus3
We are a tree, my family and me.
Branch upon branch in a spreading crown,
Roots deep under the ground,
We are a tree.
We are a tree.
We are a tree.
Thanks for listening,
Rob
