A Day in the Life of a Tree

"A Day in the Life of a Tree" is a song by American rock band the Beach Boys from their 1971 album Surf's Up.

Forests were dying, the air had turned brown, the earth's future was beginning to appear hazardous to health.

[3]AllMusic interpreted the song's subject to be autobiographical, calling it "one of Brian's most deeply touching and bizarre compositions…lamenting his long life amid the pollution and grime of a city park while the somber tones of a pipe organ build atmosphere.

We went for a walk in Brian's back yard, he was reflecting on some of the trees growing there…some young, some old….strong oaks and one that was dead from a lightning strike.

We were discussing how to get the message of the song to come across in a sound picture (or tone poem) and not just a melody with a story attached.

Brian would tell me sonic concepts and I'd throw ideas back at him about how to realize the picture from a sound engineering point of view.

[6] In a 2010 interview, Andrew VanWyngarden stated that Al Jardine had told him that "no one would sing [the song] because it was too depressing, so the manager guy, Jack Rieley, sang it.

"[10] Warner Bros. Records staff arranger Van Dyke Parks sang background vocals on the track.

I went to his house on Bellagio Drive and told Brian, “There’s no talking about it, you’re coming with me!” And he turned it into a fun thing.

Now I want to introduce my good friend Jack Rieley to sing A Day In The Life Of A Tree.” I had no knowledge he was planning to do this and didn’t know many of the lyrics!

[13]Neil Young has briefly referred to "A Day in the Life of a Tree", saying "Brian's a genius…[It's a] great song, man.

"[14] Music journalist Ian MacDonald referred to the song as "so radically at odds with pop's now ubiquitous irony that you either laugh or become humbled by its pained candour.