Redwood Tree (song)

"Redwood Tree" is the sixth song on Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison's 1972 album, Saint Dominic's Preview. When released as a single it was not as successful as Rolling Stone reviewer Steven Holden had anticipated: "The affirmation of Saint Dominic's Preview is translated to the past in 'Redwood Tree', an ecstatic boyhood reminiscence centering on the image of a sheltering redwood tree. This beautiful, sensuous cut has the album's greatest potential as a hit single."^[1] It was released as a single but only charted at number ninety-eight on the Billboard Hot 100, which made it less of a success than the album's lead single "Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)", which reached number sixty-one.^[2]

Biographer Johnny Rogan believes "'Redwood Tree' enshrined the beauty of Marin county," which was where Morrison was living at the time.^[3] John Collis describes the song as "A charming if somewhat folksy reminder of Morrison's interest in country music at the time."^[4] Another biographer, Brian Hinton remarks:

'Redwood Tree' is a song of reconciliation, which seems to graft Van's Belfast childhood onto California, where redwoods actually grow, "Keep us from all harm", an invocation to the spirit of the ancient wood.^[5]

Personnel on the original release

• Van Morrison - vocals, rhythm guitar
• Jules Broussard - tenor saxophone
• Bill Church - bass
• Gary Mallaber - drums
• Doug Messenger - guitar
• Janet Planet - backing vocals
• Tom Salisbury - piano
• Ellen Schroer - backing vocals
• Jack Schroer - alto and baritone saxophones
• Mark Springer - backing vocals

Notes

1. ^ Holden, Stephen (1972-08-31). "Van Morrison:Saint Dominic's Review". rollingstone.com. http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/vanmorrison/albums/album/186447/review/5945763. Retrieved 2008-08-08. 
2. ^ "Van Morrison: Charts and awards: billboard singles". allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p107175. Retrieved 2009-0-07. 
3. ^ Rogan, No Surrender, p.275
4. ^ Collis. Inarticulate Speech of the Heart, p.132
5. ^ Hinton. Celtic Crossroads, p.143

References

• Collis, John (1996). Inarticulate Speech of the Heart, Little Brown and Company, ISBN 0-306-80811-0
• Hinton, Brian (1997). Celtic Crossroads: The Art of Van Morrison, Sanctuary, ISBN 1-86074169X
• Rogan, Johnny (2006). Van Morrison: No Surrender, London: Vintage Books ISBN 9780099431831