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The Trees Lyrics: Neil Peart

There is unrest in the Forest There is trouble with the trees For the Maples want more sunlight And the Oaks ignore their pleas.

The trouble with the Maples (And they’re quite convinced they’re right) They say the Oaks are just too lofty And they grab up all the light But the Oaks can’t help their feelings If they like the way they’re made And they wonder why the Maples Can’t be happy in their shade?

There is trouble in the Forest And the creatures all have fled As the Maples scream ‘Oppression!’ And the Oaks, just shake their heads

So the Maples formed a Union And demanded equal rights ‘The Oaks are just too greedy We will make them give us light’ Now there’s no more Oak oppression For they passed a noble law And the trees are all kept equal By hatchet, Axe, And saw…

Link for the music (youtu.be)

The Trees Lyrics: Neil Peart There is unrest in the Forest There is trouble with the trees For the Maples want more sunlight And the Oaks ignore their pleas. The trouble with the Maples (And they’re quite convinced they’re right) They say the Oaks are just too lofty And they grab up all the light But the Oaks can’t help their feelings If they like the way they’re made And they wonder why the Maples Can’t be happy in their shade? There is trouble in the Forest And the creatures all have fled As the Maples scream ‘Oppression!’ And the Oaks, just shake their heads So the Maples formed a Union And demanded equal rights ‘The Oaks are just too greedy We will make them give us light’ Now there’s no more Oak oppression For they passed a noble law And the trees are all kept equal By hatchet, Axe, And saw… [Link for the music](https://youtu.be/JnC88xBPkkc)
[–] • 3 pts

RIP, Neil Peart

The Trees is a great song, but under the lens of modern times, it sounds like the solution at the end is a DEI implementation. The Oaks should not be pruned or chopped to make the Maples feel equitable. That's like oppressing Whites so that the browns can feel they are getting the outcome they want. Neil was a great lyricist, but his politics have always been murky to me. And Geddy is a jew so...

[–] • 2 pts

oppressing Whites so that the browns can feel they are getting the outcome they want

This has been a preferred solution by some for a long time so I'm sure this is exactly what Neil meant when he wrote it. In contrast, in recent interviews Geddy has backed off of it saying in retrospect the sentiment was misguided.