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Family Tree Lyrics

I tell you now that I don't understand
Why everybody gives a big hi-damn
Oh where I'm going to
Don't mean a thing to you

I see you sitting in your masquerade
I'd love to pour you some of my lemonade
And get it off alright
We're caught in an early night

I know you hate me so, but I ain't gonna go
I'm staying here all right

I am your family tree
I know your A to Z
This is a secret proposition lay your hands on me
Nothin' to talk about darlin', it's all make believe

I see your hands are shaking but
My heart is breaking me down

Its a pretty day and I'm gonna get alright
I lost my head and you ain't nowhere in sight
I see you got it all wrong
I got no calls on my phone

I just keep holding out, until I find a doubt
That you ain't coming home

I am your family tree
I know your A to Z
This is a secret proposition lay your hands on me
Nothin' to talk about darlin', It's all make believe

I see your hands are shaking but
My heart is breaking me down

I am your family tree
I know your A to Z
This is a secret proposition lay your hands on me

I am your family tree
I know your A to Z
I got a secret proposition lay your hands on me

I am your family tree
I know your A to Z
This is a secret proposition lay your hands on me
Nothin' to talk about darlin', It's all make believe

I see your hands are shaking but
My heart is breaking me down

I see your hands are shaking but
My heart is breaking me down
Song Info
Submitted by
kattrina On Sep 16, 2013
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Cover art for Family Tree lyrics by Kings of Leon

Frontman Caleb Followill explained the song's meaning to The Sun: "While you'd expect the track 'Family Tree' to be about family, it's a song I wrote about a lot of stereotypes about the South," he said. "It's got humor in there, I hope. Even with my personal stuff I try to have fun – the hook of the chorus to that song is a joke."

Song Meaning
Cover art for Family Tree lyrics by Kings of Leon

This to me sounds like a song about sexual abuse by a family member (an uncle or something) of a child. "I am your family tree" - Obviously, he's saying he's related to the victim "I know your A to Z" - He knows everything about his victim "This is a secret proposition" - The threat not to tell anyone about it "Lay your hands on me" - Forcing them to follow his demands

Other stuff shows the trauma his victim is subjected to and that he believes he doesn't have a choice "I see your hands are shaking but / my heart is breaking me down"

"I'd love to pour you some of my lemonade / And get it off alright" - should be fairly self-explanatory

My Interpretation

I strongly disagree and think you should listen to the song (or at least again). Songs about abuse aren't usually this funky unless it's a Sublime song.

I agree w/the partial alphabet poster about it being someone who is as close as family (a band mate maybe?) and there is the desire to fight/argue by one but not the other.

My self-explanations/interpretations below:

'I am our family tree' - They are close and he's not going anywhere 'I know you A to Z' - He knows how the other behaves and they will withdraw (early night and no...

  • 'I am our family tree' - They are close and he's not going anywhere
  • 'I know you A to Z' - He knows how the other behaves and they will withdraw (early night and no phone call)
  • 'This is a secret proposition' - The secret is he wants the other to throw down and argue/fight instead of avoiding him.
  • 'Secret Proposition' - is that he wants the other to unload and argue with him instead of being so cordial and 'neighborly'
  • 'Lay Hands' - is a reference to cause one physical harm out of frustration.
  • 'hands are shaking' - the nervous tick of the other person who will tremble and walk away instead of standing their ground.when they feel the tension
  • 'my heart is breaking' - he feels bad for and is frustrated w/the other person
  • 'Pouring of lemonade' - For the other to acknowledge and share the tension by getting the issue out in the open and 'get it off alright' is the release of the tension/frustration so they can move forward.
  • That makes more sense, now that I listen to it properly. When it came through as it being about what I thought originally, I misheard the "It's so neighbourly" as "It's all make believe", in that the victim wouldn't be believed by anyone as they're just a child with a wild imagination

    This song is about the things we inherit from our family. Traits and weakness, like addiction, alcoholism or even adultry?? "I know your family tree" The substance knows that he is an addict. "Lay your hands on me." Entising him to take a drink/ in part of the substance. "I see you sitting in your masquerade I'd love to pour you some of my lemonade." The substance knows that he is trying to not be an addict but yet still insisting that he take part. Leomonade is a comon drink. "Its a pretty day and I'm gonna get alright ...

    Cover art for Family Tree lyrics by Kings of Leon

    For me, the song is about somebody who is as close to him as a family member

    My Interpretation
    Cover art for Family Tree lyrics by Kings of Leon

    I was sure he was singing "it's all make believe" rather than "it's so neighbourly." The movement of his mouth seems to support this if you see them perform it live.

    The lyrics in the CD album insert say "make-believe" - I'll be correcting the lyrics here shortly.

    Cover art for Family Tree lyrics by Kings of Leon

    This song is about the things we inherit from our family. Traits and weakness, like addiction, alcoholism or even adultry?? "I know your family tree" The substance knows that he is an addict. "Lay your hands on me." Entising him to take a drink/ in part of the substance. "I see you sitting in your masquerade I'd love to pour you some of my lemonade." The substance knows that he is trying to not be an addict but yet still insisting that he take part. Leomonade is a comon drink. "Its a pretty day and I'm gonna get alright I lost my head and you ain't nowhere in sight" He is saying that he needs some of his device but he is trying to stay clean.

    Cover art for Family Tree lyrics by Kings of Leon

    At first impression, the song does sort of seem to be about incest, maybe between cousins. But, although the band may be aware that it'll give that impression, I think that it's actually a straight-up love song: he wants to marry her. By saying "you are my family tree", I think it's a very forward statement of confidence in their being so perfect for each other that, to him, it's like they're already family.

    One of the possible interpretations of the lyric "my heart is breakin' me down" is that his heart is breaking down any resistance he has to that kind of commitment.

    Cover art for Family Tree lyrics by Kings of Leon

    This song to my best insight is about a verbal fight between a man and his wife over something in the tabloids or news and shes gets pissed then leaves and he wont cave in until he knows for sure she wont come back home. READ NEXT TO THE LYRICS FOR SPECIFICS: it makes perfect sense.

    I tell you now that I don't understand Why everybody gives a big hi-damn Oh where I'm going to Don't mean a thing to you (This refers to something a tabloid or something someone said concerning his personal life, and that whoever hes talking to should just ignore it.)

    I see you sitting in your masquerade I'd love to pour you some of my lemonade And get it off alright We're caught in an early night (He wants to have a good night with no arguments just have some fun)

    I know you hate me so, but I ain't gonna go I'm staying here all right (the other person cannot deal with him at the moment but hes not gonna leave the house.)

    I am your family tree I know your A to Z (I'm married to you and I know everything about you) This is a secret proposition (what those tabloids said is BS.) lay your hands on me (come on hit me cause your so mad) Not gonna talk about darlin', (we arent gonna stop fighting because we have a child) its so neighborly (its the way everyone else fights.)

    I see your hands are shaking (you're so mad your hands are shaking and he can see that) but My heart is breaking me down (but he wont stop being mad)

    Its a pretty day and I'm gonna get alright (hes gonna forget about it) I lost my head and you ain't nowhere in sight (he got too angry last night and shes gone.) I see you got it all wrong (he feels she overreacted) I got no calls on my phone (shes not calling him to talk it out)

    I just keep holding out, until I find a doubt That you ain't coming home (hes not gonna give in until she calls first unless shes doesnt even come home)

    Cover art for Family Tree lyrics by Kings of Leon

    I think it's "make believe" instead of neighbourly, and "we'll call it" an early night