Fruit Tree

Nick Drake's song 'Fruit Tree' delves into the transient and often hollow nature of fame. The metaphor of a fruit tree is central to the song, symbolizing fame as something that appears fruitful and desirable but is ultimately unsound and fleeting. Drake suggests that fame cannot truly flourish until after the individual has passed away, much like a tree that only reaches its full potential once its roots are firmly in the ground. This idea is reinforced by the lines, 'So men of fame can never find a way / Till time has flown far from their dying day,' indicating that true recognition often comes posthumously.

The lyrics also explore the theme of being forgotten in life but remembered after death. Drake poignantly notes, 'Forgotten while you're here / Remembered for a while,' highlighting the temporary nature of posthumous fame. The 'much updated rain' and 'much updated style' suggest that even this remembrance is subject to change and reinterpretation over time. Life, according to Drake, is a 'theatre full of sadness for a long forgotten show,' emphasizing the melancholic and transient nature of existence and fame.

Drake's introspective lyrics encourage listeners to reflect on the deeper meaning of life and fame. The lines, 'Seems so easy just to let it go on by / Till you stop and wonder why you never wondered why,' invite a moment of self-reflection. The song concludes with a sense of acceptance, as the fruit tree, representing the individual, is finally recognized and appreciated only after it has ceased to exist. This acceptance is encapsulated in the lines, 'They will know that you were here when you are gone,' suggesting that true worth and recognition often come too late.