Flame Trees lyrics by Cold Chisel, 6 meanings. Flame Trees explained, official 2024 song lyrics | LyricsMode.com
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Cold Chisel – Flame Trees lyrics
Flame Trees - by Cold Chisel.
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Written by Steve Prestwich/Don Walker
From "Twentieth Century"

Kids out driving Saturday afternoon just pass me by
I'm just savouring familiar sights
We shared some history, this town and I
And I can't stop that long forgotton feeling of her
Time to book a room and stay tonight.
Number one is to find some friends to say "You're doing wel..."
After all this time you boys look just the same."
Number two is the happy hour at one of two hotels,
And settle in to play "Do you remember so and so?".
Number three is never say her name.
And Oh the flame trees will blind the weary driver
And there's nothing else could set fire to this town
There's no change, there's no pace,
Everything within it's place
Just makes it harder to believe that she won't be around.
But Oh! Who needs that sentimental bullshit, anyway?
You know it takes more than just a memory to make me cry
And I'm happy just to sit here, at a table with old friends
And see which one of us can tell the biggest lies.
And there's a girl, she's falling in love, near where the pianola stands..
With a young local factory auto-worker, just holding hands
And I'm wondering if he'll go or if he'll stay.
Do you remember, nothing stopped us on the field in our day
Oh the flame trees will blind the weary driver
And there's nothing else could set fire to this town.
There's no change, there's no pace,
Everything within it's place
Just makes it harder to believe that she won't be around.
Oh the flame trees will blind the weary driver
And there's nothing else could set fire to this town.
There's no change, there's no pace,
Everything within it's place
Just makes it harder to believe that she won't be around.
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Songwriters: Don Walker, Steve Prestwich
Flame Trees lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Submitted by Michelle

Flame Trees meanings Post my meaning

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    I heard that the song is about Don Walkers home town of Grafton as shown by the Lyric, "one of two Hotels". It is a country town with nothing much going on. It is a long boring drive to the next big town, so the lyric "blind the weary Driver". Flame tree are a native Australian tree with bright red flowers. It is about an old girlfriend, who, I suspect, died of a Heroin overdose. The flame tree flowers usually flowers in spring and only when under stress from bushfires or dry seasons. The Flame tree is a Monocotyledon and is more closely related to grass than other trees. It is usually found in rain forests. Sarah Blasko does a fabulous version of this song.
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    Most of the above comments are spot on (except it’s not about Elizabeth SA). It is about Grafton NSW Australia. The funny thing is Grafton is not known for its Fame Trees. It is known for Jacarandas. But try making a lyric out of Jacaranda! So artistic license was used, putting in Flame trees instead.
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    I see this as a song about love and loss. The narrator returns to his hometown after being away for a period - maybe a Khe Sahn like grieving phase after the death of the woman in his life. Despite his best efforts to hide how much he is still hurting, he feels blinded by the Illawarra Flame Trees of Grafton. He tries to distract himself by catching up with his mates, reasoning that he is "happy just to sit here, round a table with old friends", but the climax of the song comes when he sees a young couple "falling in love near where the pianola stands". This is emphasized by a key change from E major to G major. I agree that she may have died of an overdose, it wouldn't be unusual for Chisel to address an issue like that (think abortion in Choir Girl, or PTSD in Khe Sanh). Definitely my favorite Chisel song :).
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    I just remade the song for a karaoke company. I have been to australia, yes, been there and I made my mark. The people, mayor band and town wanted me to stay, but immigration rules kicked me out. Anyways,
    I just now realized this is an aussie song.
    This bloke is coming home to his small town and I think he is hooking up with childhood and high school friends. But for some reason, there is a stronger reason than normal, he is having a hard time coming back. She is gone, but I think it's more than a breakup. I think the catch is that she is probably deceased. The term, "flame trees" is confusing to me. The 50's chorus is really deep and very epic. I think she died, he fell into denial, and now faces the town they met for the first time. I dunno, all I know is, I like the song alot.
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    Flame trees was written by don walker about the town he grew up in, grafton nsw. It is about him coming "home", catching up with some old friends and reminiscing about an old girlfriend. Grafton is not only famous for the jacaranda trees that line our streets, we also have beautiful illawarra flame trees. As you drive into grafton along the pacific hwy you can see the wonderful red of the flame trees hence the line "oh the flame trees will blind the weary driver".
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    Its about elizebeth in adelaid hes sayin how nothing has changed and it makes it hard to beleave he wont see and old gf again caz it is exactly how it was wen he left and elizebeth is so much like that he is talking bout holdens wen he says the girl fallin in love with a man working at the local auto factory if you been there you wud know.
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    • U
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      I heard that the song is about Don Walkers home town of Grafton as shown by the Lyric, "one of two... Read more →
    • U
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      Most of the above comments are spot on (except it’s not about Elizabeth SA). It is about Grafton... Read more →

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