Behind the Song
This song began with another song about a father and his child. (It was about the dad encouraging his kid to do things he was too scared to do himself.)
Then I jotted down a quick poem about a few generations of men. How harsh words and anger got passed from generation to generation — but also how such a legacy was reshaped, improved, softened. That’s been my experience.
I lengthened the verses and added a chorus. The phrase “the apple falls close to the tree” came to my head as I was playing around with some chords. After that, the metaphor of a tree extending its branch to the sun followed naturally.
Lyrics
My father's father's tongue was sharp a twisted barb of rusted iron. He tore my father's tender flesh and laughed to watch him squirm. My father smote that wicked blade into a flat and shining rod. He swung that rod when he feared my ways would lead to harm. The apple falls close to the tree the tragic pull of gravity but I know it can grow a branch reaching closer to the sun. Closer to the sun closer to the sun I wrapped that rod in a woolen weave to spare my son's soft scalp. But he still feels the sting of rage when the iron presses out. And if my son should have a son I hope he leaves that rod behind. And only speak soft words of love to a new and innocent child. The apple falls close to the tree the tragic pull of gravity but I know it can grow a branch reaching closer to the sun. Closer to the sun closer to the sun We all wanna grow closer to the sun we want our kids to grow closer to the sun we all wanna grow closer to the sun we want our kids to grow Closer to the sun closer to the sun closer to the sun we all wanna grow we all wanna grow we want our kids to grow closer to the sun
ScottStoriesandSongs 