Shaking The Tree

Album: Shaking The Tree (1990)
Charted: 61
Play Video
  • Souma Yergon, Sou Nou Yergon, We are shakin' the tree
    Souma Yergon, Sou Nou Yergon, We are shakin' the tree

    Waiting your time, dreaming of a better life
    Waiting your time, you're more than just a wife
    You don't want to do what your mother has done
    She has done
    This is your life, this new life has begun
    It's your day - a woman's day
    It's your day - a woman's day

    Turning the tide, you are on the incoming wave
    Turning the tide, you know you are nobody's slave
    [ 1989 version - Find your Brothers and sisters ]
    [ 1990 version - Find your sisters and brothers ]
    Who can hear all the truth in what you say
    They can support you when you're on your way
    It's your day - a woman's day
    It's your day - a woman's day

    Souma Yergon, Sou Nou Yergon, We are shakin' the tree
    Souma Yergon, Sou Nou Yergon, We are shakin' the tree
    Souma Yergon, Sou Nou Yergon, We are shakin' the tree

    [ extra lyrics from 1989 12" remix ]

    There's nothing to gain when there's nothing to be lost
    There's nothing to gain if you stay behind and count the cost
    Make the decision that you can be who you can be
    You can be
    Tasting the fruit come to the Liberty Tree
    It's your day - a woman's day
    It's your day - a woman's day

    [ end of extra lyrics from 12" remix ]

    Changing your ways, changing those surrounding you
    Changing your ways, more than any man can do
    Open your heart, show him the anger and pain, so you heal
    Maybe he's looking for his womanly side, let him feel

    You had to be so strong
    And you do nothing wrong
    Nothing wrong at all
    We're gonna to break it down
    We have to shake it down
    Shake it all around

    Souma Yergon, Sou Nou Yergon, We are shakin' the tree
    Souma Yergon, Sou Nou Yergon, We are shakin' the tree
    Souma Yergon, Sou Nou Yergon, We are shakin' the tree Writer/s: Peter Gabriel, Youssou N'Dour
    Publisher: BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 5

  • Steve from VancouverHere's Peter Gabriel's quote about the song, which should provide more to what it means than most comments here :) “‘Shaking The Tree’ was initially a lyrical idea. Youssou [co-writer N’Dour – Ed] asked me to try and focus on women’s emancipation. And the tree, as well as being the national symbol of Senegal, is also seen in those old medieval alchemy sketches as masculine, the phallus. There’s a famous engraving that Jung used of his man lying down with an erect tree growing out of a strategic point. The idea of the song is for women to go out and take control of their own destiny, shake up the male establishment. We tried to work something out for an African and Western situation too.”
    Peter Gabriel (690)
  • Tim from Springfield, MaIf I'm not mistaken this was in the movie Junlge 2 Jungle. Brilliant song, I wish it was played on the radio more.
  • Steve from Belmont, CaOne of the best inspirational songs for women there is.
  • Nicole from Apple Valley, MnA remix of this song was recorded for "The Wild Thornberrys" in 2002. It features Shaggy and Youssou N'Dour along with Peter Gabriel.
  • Justin from Felts Mills, NyThis is one of Peter Gabriel's most inspirational songs, right up there with "In Your Eyes" and "Biko." It truly rocks.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

When Rock Belonged To Michelob

When Rock Belonged To MichelobSong Writing

Michelob commercials generated hits for Eric Clapton, Genesis and Steve Winwood in the '80s, even as some of these rockers were fighting alcoholism.

Mike Campbell

Mike CampbellSongwriter Interviews

Mike is lead guitarist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and co-writer of classic songs like "Boys Of Summer," "Refugee" and "The Heart Of The Matter."

Protest Songs

Protest SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know your protest songs (including the one that went to #1)?

Best Band Logos

Best Band LogosSong Writing

Queen, Phish and The Stones are among our picks for the best band logos. Here are their histories and a design analysis from an expert.

Michael Schenker

Michael SchenkerSongwriter Interviews

The Scorpions and UFO guitarist is also a very prolific songwriter - he explains how he writes with his various groups, and why he was so keen to get out of Germany and into England.

American Hits With Foreign Titles

American Hits With Foreign TitlesSong Writing

What are the biggest US hits with French, Spanish (not "Rico Suave"), Italian, Scottish, Greek, and Japanese titles?