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My Gen X Playlist: Cherry Tree – 10,000 Maniacs

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What was your favorite subject in school?

My favorite subject in high school was English and I didn’t care much for math. English classes filled my mind with stories and novels while math just asked me to figure out how many apples Johnny could eat after traveling 50 mph in the rain every other Tuesday. If there were emojis back then, I can think of a few for each.

Fast forward to now. My entire career centers around numbers. I think the turning point was in college when math actually had an application. Business was interesting and numbers took on a whole new dimension. I wouldn’t say that I have a passion for numbers, nor am I smart enough to understand vague math theory. I don’t and I’m not. I explain to colleagues that I just apply common sense to numbers and blend them into a business setting. I wish there was more magic to it than that, but it’s that basic. It’s worked well for me so far.

In pursuit of my degree, it seems I abandoned English all together. In my career, communication is necessary, but some parts can be more of a chore than anything else. Discussions are great, but there is less joy writing about the numbers. The one job that I did enjoy almost 100% of the time was when I spent a year in Japan teaching conversation English to adults. I joke that in that role, I was a teacher, entertainer, salesman and friend all rolled up into one. That was a lot of fun. It also opened my eyes to how difficult it is to learn English. The rules, exception to the rules, idioms, etc. I suppose the road to learning any new language follows a similar path and this may not be unique at all. Maybe being a first hand witness to the challenges learning something other than your native tongue had an impact on me.

When I think about my college music, In My Tribe by the 10,000 Maniacs comes to mind. That was one of the albums that kickstarted my college music playlist. A lot of music on the album leans towards storytelling, inspired by people and experiences. Cherry Tree is a track on the album that addresses illiteracy.

Most of Merchant’s songs are inspired by the experiences of others, and she often inhabits other personas through her lyrics:

“I think isolation can be the death, for me. I need feedback, I take my inspiration from other people often, and their stories and their lives.”

Empathy is a driving force behind much of her music, as she puts herself in the shoes of people with a wide variety of life experiences.

“I felt like it would be the most powerful way to tell stories, taking on characteristics of others. Like the song ‘Beloved Wife’, I took on the persona of a man who had lost his wife. Or I wrote a song called ‘Cherry Tree’ years ago, written from the point of view of someone who’s illiterate. I’ve written from the point of view of a single mother, struggling to provide for her children.”

– ManifestBoston

I live in silence, afraid to speak
of my life in darkness because I cannot read.

But all those lines and circles, to me, a mystery.
Eve pull down the apple and give a taste to me.
For if she could it would be wonderful.
Then I wouldn’t need someone else’s eyes to see what’s in front of me.

– Cherry Tree

In My Tribe inspired me to think more about the lyrics rather than the melody. Natalie Merchant is gifted with a beautiful voice, but her bigger gift is her storytelling through music. This album is one of my all time favorites.

–

For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

Over your shoulder, please don't mind me
if my eyes have fallen onto your magazine
Oh I've been watching and wondering
why your face is changing with every line you read.

For all those lines and circles, to me, a mystery.
Eve pull down the apple and give a taste to me.
For if she could it would be wonderful, but my pride is in the way.
I cannot read to save my life, I'm so ashamed to say.

I live in silence, afraid to speak
of my life in darkness because I cannot read.

But all those lines and circles, to me, a mystery.
Eve pull down the apple and give a taste to me.
For if she could it would be wonderful.
Then I wouldn't need someone else's eyes to see what's in front of me.
No one guiding me.

It makes me humble to be so green
at what every kid can do when he learns A to Z,

But all those lines and circles just frighten me
and I fear that I'll be trampled if you don't reach for me.
Before I run I'll have to take a fall.
And then I pick myself up, so slowly
I'll devour every one of those books in the Tower of Knowledge

					


		
	







			

			26 thoughts on “My Gen X Playlist:  Cherry Tree – 10,000 Maniacs”		


		
		
    
					
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    I used to tell my ESL students that there were more exceptions than rules for English because for every rule there was at least one exception. Ha! But I loved learning and tutoring English.
    

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        So true.  I remember when a student asked me when to use “much” and when to use “more”.  I just knew when to use each and could not articulate a rule.  Well, I learned about the countable and uncountable rule that day.  I had a number of these come up.  It actually was quite interesting.
        

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    Love the lyrics of that song!  It really shines a light into the world of the illiterate.  So sad.  I’m glad that you were able to teach English in Japan.  Sounds like a rewarding experience.  You’re right, the English language has so many weird rules!
    

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      It was a rewarding experience.  It made me learn grammar rules.  I never knew the actual rules.  You just know.  But the students always asked about the rules.  It was interesting for me to actually learn the rules to teach.
      

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    Completely agree
    
I love her voice!
    
Her songs often bring a tear to my eye
    
Once I was listening to one of her songs and feeling the lyrics and the person I was with said they never listened to lyrics. I was floored. For me that’s like missing half the song. Funny It’s a little  like being illiterate. I know plenty of people who can read but don’t. I guess it just seems sad to me because I like a good story so much. Some people are happy without music or story
    
We need their talents also. My current life is all about learning to embrace things and people I don’t easily understand. That said, I love knowing I’m not alone in appreciating story song lyrics!
    
Keep the music choices coming! Thanks for this one!
    

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    English is my second language    to be honest  I like to read and write  with my native language. But I live at this time in an English speaking country so I have to deal with it  previously I used English in my career as a doctor it was full with medical terms so far from emotional part of any language
    
So recently I try to find the magic behind its words and I think I will .
    
Math is my favourite subject ( numbers have their language also in different ways)
    
Music and  songs is the language of every one on earth    It’s so nice to mention this song…
    
Thank you for this post it came in a perfect time to me
    
REGARDS 
    

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    I replied to another post on this WordPress prompt that English was my favourite subject in school, too. I excelled in it, unlike math, which I just could not get. If I’d had the option I’d have branched out further into artistic studies like music, creative arts, and drama; there were no courses or real resources devoted to these subjects in my school, a suburban institution on the edge of my city, run by a rural school division. It wasn’t an inspired learning experience.
    

    Like you, I enjoy Natalie Merchant’s voice, and have blogged about a couple of her songs. She is indeed an excellent storyteller and her voice and lyrics have a quality of empathy and compassion that I find very inviting.
    

    It’s interesting that, while you feel you had to abandon your love for English due to your career, you’ve found an outlet through your blog. I enjoy your writing and enjoyed this post.
    

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      Yes, it really is.  I learned how difficult it was through teaching.  Many times the students asked me for the grammar rule.  I wasn’t aware of “the rule”, I just learned from reading, writing and speaking.  That was an eye opener for me!
      

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