Rush is thinking man's music with incredible musicians.

The last line is the most important “And they were all kept equal by hatchet, axe, and saw” I see this as people that fight amongst themselves sometimes would rather see both sides destroyed than find a way to be peaceful together

I'm SO EXCITED every time someone new discovers the lyrical genius of Neil Peart!

I'm a massive old time RUSH fan and I so enjoy watching this young dude groove on RUSH. I love his reactions.

THE TREES: The most cleverly crafted rock song of all time, in my opinion. They use the trees as a metaphor for humanity and depict the battle between the haves and the have nots in a way that takes neither side, only tells the story. It is left to the listener to decide which side is right, if at all. True art does not pick sides, it only generates the thoughts and emotions within us in an attempt to expand our understanding.

As a Canadian who grew up listening to RUSH, I love how you actually listen to the lyrics and appreciate the underlying meaning of the words! I love your reactions!!!

Now the maples would scream "We're offended!!".

When questioned, they said it's "just a song about trees" but fans of RUSH know that there is a wink in there.

"They know how to do music" Well said. This is Rush.

As a lifelong Rush geek these videos are so much fun to watch, seeing the raw reaction to their songs for the first time. Their live concerts were incredible to experience. There will never be another rock band quite like Rush. Neil Peart was a brilliant mind and each of them pushed the limits of their instruments to the extreme. Fittingly, each member of the band was presented an honorary PHD in music from a university in Canada several years ago. The metaphor behind The Trees is classic libertarianism although later in life Neil Peart described himself as more of a "bleeding heart libertarian" which is apparent in many of their other songs. Love the videos!

As a Rush fan, one of the pleasures of life is sharing and interacting with others that recognize the talent of this Canadian trio. Your reactions, not just to a drum fill, a guitar riff, or a bass groove but also the lyrics, fills me with the satisfaction that people still acknowledge musicianship and craftsmanship. Thank you! If you are still on the lookout for more Rush, please let me recommend: Territories Mystic Rhythms Animate One Little Victory Malignant Narcissism (instrumental) Headlong Flight On a side note, you have mentioned in many of your videos that you were raised on Hip Hop and R&B. I have often thought that in our appreciation of you experimenting with new music, we could return the experience. Perhaps you could create a video of artists and groups (hopefully ones we have not heard of) that you grew up listening to and that you think we would enjoy. The beauty of music is sharing with others. Maybe with a little luck, we'll create reaction videos with a shout-out to you. Thanks again!

RIP Neil, we lost a great one today, one of a kind, he inspired so many, may you have ever lasting peace.

1978. 16 yrs. old at my first Rush concert. Hearing and seeing them do this album live I will never forget it. And when they did this song the crowd went nuts!

The morale of this song is when you a ask the government to fix oppression, everyone gets oppressed.

The trees are definitely a metaphor for what's going on in the world. Rush writes the soundtrack to Our Lives. They somehow considered every single one of us when they wrote their music....

Neil was a mastermind at writing lyrics.Their music has enlightened me for over 45 years.

Jamal, I am thoroughly addicted to your channel. Trees by Rush was an excellent choice and I love your reaction to this video. Keep spreading all of your happy energy, it's contagious and it makes my day. Thank you!.

You are an absolute doll. It's been decades since I heard some of these Rush songs for the first time. And now, for reasons that I can't even explain, it's been decades more since I've heard them at all. I'm totally enjoying "rediscovering" them with you. Great channel. ♡ Back in the day, we scoured every inch of album covers and record sleeves, sometimes these big, 3- section, fold out things, with lyrics, notes, and artwork, band photos and various witticisms. Do the kids still do that today? Lol. I'm old.

Everything you are thinking is exactly what this song is about. Deep. Keep the music lively by keeping it alive.

One of my favorites. song about trees but really about society. and jams hard.

good to see someone reacting to "the trees" hardly any of the people doing reactions, and Rush songs, ever listen to trees. enjoyed it. another great one never reacted to is "by Tor and the snowdog"

Try Red Barchetta ,classic RUSH tune

The masters at work. Pure artistry with amazing execution, musically and lyrically. Just mind blowing devastation. They had no peers. Best Rush track ever. I know, I say that for every Rush song... But Dude!! Thank you so much for this one

Good choice on the lyric videos... Rush is a band that needs to be experienced like this. Loving the journey with you, Jamel!

We get the government we deserve, not the one we want. This song is as relevant today as it was in 1978. Maybe, more so now.

You finally made it to their best album: Hemispheres.

One of my favorite by Rush. I remember having this on record. Great song!

I love how genuine your reactions are. It reminds me of the first time I heard this music.

I cannot believe that I remembered every single word of this song!!! It was one of my favorite Rush songs back in the 80’s in high school!! Thanks for reacting to it man. Just wow

Love watching someone get into Rush. Music and Lyrics.

Thanks. This was my favorite song as a teenager. Lol pushing 52 now but this song still rocks

That man can turn a phrase like nobody’s business-Neil Peart

The Trees is a masterclass in lyric writing, composition and execution. Also a desperately underrated bass line.

I think the most important part is "...the trees are all kept equal by hatchet, axe, and saw."

Quote from recording companies was, “Rush is too Cerebral” for radio

It’s amazing how this guys change sounds in one melody they’re awesome

This song was an exercise in "be careful what you wish for". For all the screaming of the maples, both suffered for it.

Man I was hoping you was going to do trees.... one of my favorite rush tunes

Every one of your RUSH videos, I smash that Like button before the song even starts. I already know it's gonna be amazing.

I love the way Alex starts this this guitar solo... so simple... so easy... yet so incredibly amazing sounding and instead of serving himself he serves the SONG.

The masses fighting against one another over the resources and the mighty hand of government steps in to regulate “by hatchet, axe, and saw”.

Sometimes Trees are just Trees - - but each person interprets it their own way. For me, the main point is that when you try to make all equal, you assume that the low will be lifted up, but in this instance the high were cut down ... improving no one. Even without a message, it's a great song ... love the feel of it.

I love the middle part of this song. This is one of my fav albums of all time. 😀👍

I absolutely LOVE your reactions to RUSH❤️❤️❤️. You have a true appreciation for their genius!! I’ve been going to see RUSH since the 70’s. I’m a somewhat rare female RUSH fanatic!

the song is about class structure...how the people who have everything, wonder why the lesser class just be happy with the scraps they they give them.

One of my absolute favorite Rush songs! Neil's lyrics has in mind how those in power ( the oaks) oppress us (the maples.)

"They know how to do music"...truer words have never been spoken!!

Goes to the ol Sayin “Can’t see the Forest 🌳 for the Trees 🌲 “

Yes a third party the lumberjacks, leveled the entire forest. You can't stump RUSH.

Have you done La Villa Strangiato? If not we need Studio then live from 77 or 78. Man it will get you. Exit Stage from 81 great but this one wow.

Rush is know as a live band and sometimes their live version is better ... Exit Stage left .....one song transitions to the other ... Broone's Bane to The Tress to Xanadu

You'd really love By-Tor and The Snow Dog I bet.

2:26 - The trees are definitely an intended metaphor.

please react to LIMELIGHT. favorite RUSH song and my favorite sone of all time

this song is a metaphor ontop of like a thousand other metaphors and its insane(ly good)

Love, love, love this song. 💜

The Maples are Canada, the Oaks are America

Your going in deep on Rush....your awesome👍 That’s some serious sauce to think about...

RIP The Professor of drums...and lyrics

I've seen Rush seven times in concert. It always felt to me that the song the trees was about racism.

These days we can really see this song in action on many levels. Oaks grabbing all the light, Mapels not happy in there shade. Oppresion, then equality by force.

I was 15 years old when this came out I immediately thought of any kind of inequality. Rush is the music that taught me values I still hold dear.

If you want to truly understand Rush's music, especially this song, you have to read a Novella by Ayn Rand titled "Anthem" ( it's about 3 pages if I remember correctly ). Rush's records were produced at first by Anthem records, and one of their first popular songs was titled "anthem" so you see the reference again and again through out the bands history. The story centers around a young man who is "cursed" by being smarter, stronger, and in general more alive than those around him in a world where conformity is the law. He chooses instead to turn his back on society, to go out on his own and celebrate his individuality by not being bound to the limitations of what those in power said he should be. This idea is reflected ominously in the last line of the song. "The trees are all kept equal by hatchet, ax, and saw". This says nothing about the Maple's attempting to reach higher, instead it speaks of forming laws to limit the Oaks. Anyone who has seen a full grown Oak tree will tell you they are about three times the size of a full grown Maple. In the name of conformity the Maples want to cut away two thirds of what God gave to the Oaks so they don't have to feel inferior. You see this today in modern society where every player in the league gets a trophy so no one feels left out. The converse of this is that no one, no matter what talents they were born with or worked really hard to develop, is allowed to feel special. This ultimately leads to a cold ,dead,apathetic society where what's the point in striving for more when all around you are those who don't want to strive for more, they want you to have less? The song "Subdivisions" also warns of the dangers of conformity "Be cool or be cast out" You will find this thread of Individualism and self worth woven through out their music. After the first part of the song you said something about it being "deep". I don't think you realize how right you were.

I have always thought the last line was the most telling. The rest of the song could be about any conflict in general where there is a group that is being oppressed by another, be it civil rights, income classes, or even at work. But that last line, it HAD to be planned. To me, it has always had a little "be careful what you wish for" taste to it because once you are equal, you are now judged by the same standard and will ultimately be subject to the same consequences as alluded to in the last line where all the trees got cut down. I may be WAY off here, but that's what it spoke to me about.

I’ve often heard that Neil Peart’s lyrics on this song dealt with the Canadian battle on what should be the national language: French or English.

RIP NEIL LOVE THIS SONG THANK YOU!!

Jamel, Like all of their songs the subject is usually a metaphor for something about the human condition. In this case it's a statement about human inequality in all its forms.

Note: The oak *naturally* out-shades the maple in certain forests successions.

I just look at it as Ayn Rand would see it to determine what meaning Neil was putting into it We will never hear Neil talk about again because of controversy people put on it

You got to do The Necromancer by Rush. It's from 75. I love Rush 74 to 81. The earlier it is the harder it gets.

I can't wait to see your reaction to 2112: Overture. It's next in my queue

From my perspective, this song shows that attempts to equalize the "haves" and the "have-nots", by force or draconian laws .... well it has a bad habit of leading to starvation and murder. Over 100 million dead in the 20th century alone from such struggles. The sad part about the song though is that both the Oaks and the Maples are the victims. Note that in the end, ALL the trees get the axe. But hey, food for thought, etc. Glad you are enjoying Rush!

bruv your hoodie dope af! Also can you react to Cliffs of Dover live by Eric Johnson please!

The very last couple of lines in the song illustrate how the trees ironically achieved their “equality” . Can you see that irony?

The Trees represent Economic systems. Capitalism (Oaks) vs Socialism (Maples) Also a bit of a play on American economics vs Canadian Economics But when you cut the trees down to balance things you end up with Communism.

Really good choice

I believe that the meaning of the song is that in order to be "equal" we must all be cut down. That means that we all lose.

The next Rush song to do would be Nobody's Hero. It gives me the feels every time. :)

Government "solutions" are usually worse than the problem.

Did you see the teaser trailer for Selena’s Netflix series yet?

No they are really talking about trees. Come on now. Elephant in the room

When things are made equal by making everything the same. Destroys individual liberty and freedom.

"...the trees are all kept equal by hatchet, axe, and saw." The Maples, the oppressed, became the oppressors.

The last line is the real kicker. Equality is desirable but it should be done by elevating the underprivileged, not by diminishing the achievers. A fairly naive and Libertarian view. Help the needy but don't take any of my stuff. I trust the boys have acquired a more nuanced view with age.

As I get older I look at this song differently. When I was in my teens, I was like mannnn they did a song bout trees *hits bong*. Now, at 40, It can go 50 different ways. Really powerful lyrics

I love the reactions- I take it for granted because I grew up with it - but then you make me realize just how precious this music is

Love your station. Rush is my favorite band for the past 45 years. Going on this Rush journey with you has allowed me to experience Rush like I did with my childhood friends. Thank you again

Brings back freshman high-school memories. I was 15 in '87 when my best friend who lived across the street played bass and I guitar. He was a huge Rush fan from age 4 and got me into them when I was 12. Nearly everything I learned on guitar was from Alex Lifeson and we got ourselves a drummer and started rehearsing for our high-school variety show. The drummer bought the woodblocks and we I played Broons Bane, then we played The trees and Spirit of Radio. I'm glad Alex was my main influence on guitar. The learning curve was huge, but the payoff sweeter.

I heard years ago that the band was exploring the Olympic Peninsula rain forest between Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean in Washington state where they gathered the inspiration for this song which I heard was about union and non union in the working world. Thanks for checking that one out. Always one of my favorites! 🎸

As someone who has heard this song countless times and played it on bass a few times, it’s so great to see your reaction to this amazing song.

My first Rush concert was Apr-May 1982. Lake Charles, LA. Boy was I amazed. I was still only 20 yrs old and about to join the Navy.

I love watching you enjoy Rush and the fact that their lyrics are meaningful. Keep up the great work.

Rush drummer and lyricist Neil Peart was asked in the April/May 1980 issue of the magazine Modern Drummer if there was a message in the lyrics, to which he replied, "No. It was just a flash. I was working on an entirely different thing when I saw a cartoon picture of these trees carrying on like fools. I thought, 'What if trees acted like people?' So I saw it as a cartoon really, and wrote it that way. I think that's the image that it conjures up to a listener or a reader. A very simple statement.

By-Tor and the Snowdog. I think you would enjoy that one. A very wild ride! Great reaction!

That's a very talented woodpecker at about 3:10 in that interlude Jamel ! Love that you're covering one of the greatest band that ever was, or will be, RUSH ! Keep 'em coming

Incredible piece of music,written by 3 of the greatest rock musicians to walk on planet earth.

Rush is one of the few bands that almost sounded like their studio

How relevant this song is today in the year 2020, that as each year passes the more important the lessons for mankind!

Jamel you are the only reaction channel I watch, stumbled on your channel by accident when I saw that you were reacting to "Rush" Subdivision in my feed a favorite song of mine and feel you come across as the most authentic in your critiquing of music from a time you did not grow up in or know at all and is not music that in the ignorant world we live in today where people assume all black people listen to rap, R&B and hip-hop music only and that is where our music palette begins and ends. It's refreshing as a person of color who also listens to everything from classical music, opera, international music, disco, pop, rap, R&B, hip hop, Adult contemporary, alternative music, all forms of rock and hard heavy metal music, you are helping people know that there are people of color who can listen to everything as well and critique and hear and appreciate or not a specific genre of music and not have to like or hate everything in a specific genre but maybe just a song in that genre. Keep keeping it real in your critique of everything in a song from lyrics, musicianship, video and vocals and I would like to give you a list of songs that I couldn't find in your library so if you haven't done any of them then I hope you will consider a critiquing of all or some of these artist pre-2003: Amanda Marshall: Beautiful Goodbye live kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qK9_bKqY0bbVpp8.html (this version is best) Korn: Falling Away From Me or Freak on a Leash (official videos only very artistic); Evanescence - Bring me to life, My Immortal or Lithium; Jann Arden: Unloved, Good Mother, Seventeen, Insensitive; Heart: Barracuda or Crazy on You live (Live is best from the 70's and 80's as the guitar riff opening is done by the lead singers sister who is a true musician and talented); Journey: Edge of the Blade, Feeling that Way or Who's Crying Now (Steve Perry is the lead singer nicknamed "The Voice" a talent of his time); No Doubt: Just a Girl; K-os: Man I Used to Be; Anita Baker: You Bring Me Joy Live (live version is best from the 80's);Police: Wrapped Around Your Finger, Every Breath You Take, Don't Stand so Close to Me or Roxanne; Sade: Pearls Live (current performances); Peter Gabriel: Biko (Live version kzfaq.info/get/bejne/nq-pqN2J05eum6s.html or from Free Mandela concert 1988 kzfaq.info/get/bejne/mqeaqZqCqLfPqqs.html); Simply Red: Money to Tight to Mention (liver version from the 80's or 90's); Gowan: Criminal Mind (original video as it is artistic and so 90's); Jessie J: Technoogy (no video but this live version is best kzfaq.info/get/bejne/m52Zgdl3yrmwcnU.html); Radiohead: Creep (lyric version best); Sarah McLachlan: Fallen, Path of Thorns, Fear, Do What You Have to Do (not sure if there are videos or live performances lyric version may be best these songs are super deep on the emotional level) Sorry for long list but I hope you find something in this list that you will enjoy and will also surprise you

Background: Rush are a Canadian band and the Maple is the tree of Canada. Canada belongs to the British Commonwealth, and the Oak is a symbol of Britain. At the time when this song was written there was a significant "separatist" movement happening in the Quebec province of Canada. So this song was kind of descriptive and prophetic of what was going on and where it could all end.