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George Woodhouse and the Public Service - The Fish Are In The Trees

from Carry the Spark: Songs from 50 Things by Various Artists

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about

*The Fish Are In The Trees** is a lyrically imaginative ballad that pays homage to the interconnectedness of all living things. The song title was inspired by a story from the West Coast of Canada where communities were trying to figure out why salmon were not returning to spawn upriver. An elder from one of these communities famously said, “the fish are in the trees.” It was a profound statement that speaks to the interconnectedness that most humans subconsciously neglect. Without conscious awareness of our interconnectedness, we can easily justify the most convenient approaches to natural resource management. Whether it's a backyard garden or an entire forest, we each have a responsibility that future generations depend on.

So what can you do today to break through the sub-conscious neglect? Intellectually, you can begin by looking up "Glyphosate Nova Scotia" and seeing what you find in your own backyard. Spiritually, you can begin by giving yourself permission to pause and sit in this community garden.

This song is dedicated to all the folks who continue to fight for a pesticide-free and spray-free Nova Scotia. It is dedicated to the harvesters and the gardeners, the stewards and the foresters who are able to see the bigger picture that we're all a part of. May we come together as individuals, industries and communities in the spirit of Netukulimk , AKA Two-Eyed Seeing.

lyrics

I approached my flower, he was on the verge of blooming
To help him self express his beauty, I got down to prune him
When I looked a little closer I saw insects on my flower
And as the Master Gardener I felt I had the power

I sprayed them with a pesticide because they were a pest
Then as I turned to go inside my flower self-expressed

He said: I don’t mind you feeding me and thinking that I’m pretty
I’ll gladly be your drop of beauty inside this old city
And I don’t mind you watering and pruning me with care
Plantin me under the sun, the light that we all share

But when you use your power to do harm upon my kin
Can’t you see the harm that’s done is not just onto them
Can’t you see we’re all connected, you know it don’t neglect it
Can’t you see… the fish are in the trees

The bees are in the flowers
The flowers in the fish
The fish are in the trees

I walked into the woods, down an old logging road
A sign was posted on a tree and on it someone wrote
“This forest is a spray zone, so don’t consume the berries”
Someone had told me spray’s okay but I was feeling weary

I came upon a clearing where I saw old Mother Maple
How I wish that she could speak to me if only she were able
I saw so many saplings that were growing all around her
Her family seemed to be all living things that could surround her

I wrapped my arms around her and pressed her trunk against my chest
Then as I turned to go home, Mother Maple self-expressed

She said: I don’t mind them choosing me because I’m old and strong
I’ll gladly be the timbre that will help them build their home
But when they use their power to do harm upon my kin
Can’t they see the harm that’s done is not just onto them

Can’t they see… the fish are in the trees

The fish are in the trees
The trees are in the flowers
The flowers in the bees

The bees they spread the pollen
The pollen recreates
the flowers and the plants
in the forests by the lakes
They absorb the nitrogen
And stabilize the earth
Which keeps the water clean
Can’t you see what they are worth

The fish are in the trees
The trees are in the flowers
The flowers in the bees

credits

from Carry the Spark: Songs from 50 Things, released October 13, 2022
Music and lyrics written and performed by George Woodhouse.
Engineered by Jan Lapierre.

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Zuppa Halifax, Nova Scotia

We aim to make extraordinary experiences that provoke the consideration of new perspectives and ideas. We prioritize questions over answers, and the discovery of possibility over the depiction of what is. We favour the intuitive over the formulaic and thrive on the play between the imagined and the real.

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