Flame Trees

Album: Twentieth Century (1984)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Flame trees are large trees found in parts of Australia that produce striking red blooms. There were lots of them in Grafton, where Cold Chisel keyboard player Don Walker lived as a youth. According to the band's official website, he drew inspiration for the song from these times, which was when he was forming his romantic dreams. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Duane - Adelaide, Australia
  • The song appears on Twentieth Century, an album released in 1984 after the band had broken up. By this time, they were well known in their native Australia but were frustrated because they couldn't make inroads in America. They ended up getting back together in 1997 but after releasing an album a year later, they only stayed active at odd intervals.

Comments: 5

  • Pucho from TasmaniaI went to school in Grafton and I always believed it was about Grafton. I wondered if the "factory worker" had worked at the match factory which closed in the late 70's. The Flame trees flowered at the same time as the Jacarandas (they were Queensland fire whee trees not the Illawara flame trees) they looked amazing together. I'd sometimes bump into Don Walker at the Piccolo bar in Kings Cross in the early '80s he was a easy going guy and easily one of the greatest Australian song writers.
  • Marty from SydneyMy all time favourite song
  • Myles from Brisbane Amazing song
  • Adrian from Perth"Do you remember, nothing stopped us on the field in our day." It only just occurred to me that this is a sporting reference, at least I think it is.
  • Ian James Watson from West End, Australiai am led to beleive steve prestwich had already left the band and a stand in drummer ( ray arnott ? ) was used.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Charlie Daniels

Charlie DanielsSongwriter Interviews

Charlie discusses the songs that made him a Southern Rock icon, and settles the Devil vs. Johnny argument once and for all.

Dar Williams

Dar WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

A popular contemporary folk singer, Williams still remembers the sticky note that changed her life in college.

Carl Sturken

Carl SturkenSongwriter Interviews

Hitmaker Carl Sturken on writing and producing for Rihanna, 'N Sync, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Donny Osmond, Shakira and Karyn White.

Weezer

WeezerFact or Fiction

Did Rivers Cuomo grow up on a commune? Why did they name their albums after colors? See how well you know your Weezer in this Fact or Fiction.

Matt Sorum

Matt SorumSongwriter Interviews

When he joined Guns N' Roses in 1990, Matt helped them craft an orchestral sound; his mezzo fortes and pianissimos are all over "November Rain."

Intentionally Atrocious

Intentionally AtrociousSong Writing

A selection of songs made to be terrible - some clearly achieved that goal.