Lau Noah & Jacob Collier - If a tree falls in love with a river

Written by Lau Noah
Performed by Lau Noah & Jacob Collier
Recorded at Jacob's studio in London on January 24th 2023
Mixed by Alberto Perez at Sol de Sants Studios in Barcelona
Mastered by Dave Mcnair
Video & Edit by Miguel Sierra
All rights reserved.
Lyrics:
If a tree falls in love with a river
‘cause the sun makes her golden and bright
Can the tree understand and forgive her
for the darkness she carries at night?
for the darkness she carries at night?
If the spring paints her eyes green with laughter
and the winds brush her hair from the skies
Will he love her as well moments after
in the winter when everything dies?
in the winter when everything dies?
And would he notice her face when it changes
and her water turns into a sea?
Or would he deem her a liar, a stranger,
praise forever who she used to be?
praise forever who she used to be?
Cause a tree stands too still for a river
And a river’s too wild for a tree
Would he cut off his roots to be with her?
Would she ever give up on the sea?
Would she ever give up on the sea?
Would he aim to maintain his desire
for a swamp that can no longer dance?
If he were to be thrown in the fire
in her eyes he would not stand a chance
in her eyes he would not stand a chance
But in the fall he could send from a distance
leaves of red so they dance on her hips
and she could show him proof of her existence
when the Summer rain kisses his lips
when the Summer rain kisses his lips
Cause a tree stands too still for a river
And a river’s too wild for a tree
He would not cut his roots to be with her?
and she'd never give up on the sea
She would never give up on the sea

[@jasonfieler]

This absolutely needs to be heard by thousands more people immediately it's so incredible

[@sammyboy1236]

A transcription of this would be killer!

[@EcoGui.abelha]

This song helped me go through some tough times. It sounded like it was made it for me. So deep, so special. 🤝❤️🐝

[@AGUSTINMARCH]

How is this not getting more attention. So beautiful and shiny

[@Retriever-nk8nl]

It's not enough to klick the like. This is TOO MUCH. So heartfelt, so much love

[@lucas.mathias_]

If a tree falls in love with a river 'Cause the sun makes her golden and bright Can the tree understand and forgive her For the darkness she carries at night? For the darkness she carries at night? If the spring makes her eyes green with laughter And the winds brush her hair from the skies Will he love her as well moments after In the winter when everything dies? In the wintеr when everything diеs? And would he notice her face when it changes And her water turns into a sea? Or would he deem her a liar, a stranger? Praise forever who she used to be? Praise forever who she used to be? ’Cause a tree stands too still for a river And a river's too wild for a tree Would he cut off his roots to be with her? Would she ever give up on the sea? Would she ever give up on the sea? Would he aim to maintain his desire For a swamp that can no longer dance? If he were to be thrown in the fire In her eyes, he would not stand a chance In her eyes, he would not stand a chance But in the fall, he could stand from a distance Leaves of red so they dance on her hairs And she could show him proof of her existence When the summer rain kisses his lips When the summer rain kisses his lips 'Cause a tree stands too still for a river And a river is too wild for a tree He would not cut his roots to be with her And she’d never give up on the sea She would never give up on the sea

[@sdoowramaj]

Thank you for this!

[@kauaimartasboat]

So brilliant ❣️

[@jayambrose9998]

I wish I could tell them they're the river

[@mfpwabc]

I'm just going to take a few minutes to think about how beautiful it is that this now exists in the world.

[@kristine8338]

I wish each of you has a river or a tree in your Life. A deeply truely beloved and a love that can not come true but still while listening to a song like this does make your mind fly into a world of fantasy where living together could have happened if only… 🌳🌊.

[@andrewsowers4723]

I''ve just found this and played it 10 times. How wildly familiar and yet also incredibly new and refreshing. Tight harmonies and incredible musicality. Simply a perfect little tune.

[@aashisheapen8230]

I am so happy to find that such poetry, melody, and harmony still exist in songs released nowadays

[@kelshakes]

The lyrics strike me so hard with it's honesty. It's crazy how much it conveys in a simple story about a river and a tree. Thank you for the beautiful music

[@caitlin.hardee]

Saw Lau play this opening for Chris Thile in Berlin. Beautiful song!

[@renahere1885]

What a wonderful duet with Jacob!! You blend so well...just lovely!!👏🎶

[@gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaavin]

This is so beautiful. It sounds like it should be played in a coffee shop. Also, the harmonies were AMAZING! Thank both of you for making this masterpiece and I hope you can make an appearance in Djesse 4!!

[@OriginalNameUser1]

How indescribably powerful those last lines were that without accompaniment brought the perfect denouement to this gift of a song. It caught me completely off-guard as I stood next to the register at the grocery store with earphones in, holding my phone in one hand, money in the other while staring into the middle distance. Luckily the cashier was busy in the back, but I am sure he noticed the glisten in my eyes. Thank you two for bringing beauty into our lives 💛

[@CalGalicia]

impossibly brilliant

[@nohandle508]

This is amazing

[@ilan.woodward]

This is one of the most beautiful songs ive ever heard. Its a blessing on this earth and generous gift to this human world.

[@gravityfreaksmusic]

Amen! Incredible.

[@willydeangelis699]

One of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard

[@Phil-be5nf]

I saw Lau supporting Ben Folds in York last night. Amazing and spellbinding performance

[@KJ-ho6sb]

This sounds like extremely intricate 50s music!!!! So killer!!

[@phoeberichards9656]

Baffled how this isn't more popular! Incredible song and their voices are a perfect match

[@ClockworkDave]

Incredibly beautiful.

[@DobleBobina]

Notableeee

[@gavinbrinck]

thank you so much. i'm in love with the river and the tree

[@gijsvdb]

Goosebumps! I hear in your voice the great folk singers of old, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez...

[@dancing.armadillo]

This song is absolutely beautiful! The melody and lyrics are so moving, it's a masterpiece for the soul. Can't stop listening!

[@joacomelo6633]

It's been my favourite song for the latest months, I keep coming back to it and I'm trying to learn it, lovely song, many thanks 💖

[@qasimkazmi2064]

These lyrics are surely the work of god damn genius

[@mayastx]

This is probably my favourite song. More people need to hear it!!

[@nehemiahcamiling6927]

The poetry, melodies, harmony, accompaniment and everything about it are just immaculate

[@jesusgallegoslopez]

When a tree falls in love with a river, the universe stops, time doesn't run and my heart'd like not to stop feeling this beautiful melody. Magnificent song and wonderful performance by two great geniuses!! Thans a lot for your existence.🤗💌

[@MarvinRokseth]

I'm close to 61 yo, and are so happy to see and discover young artists, that make and performing their music just for the purpose of the joy of making beautiful moments like this. This piece is in the same range as f.ex. "sometimes it rains in April" and #looking for the heart of Saturday night"...

[@brujua7]

Que hermosa canción. Gracias tanto

[@ichbrauchmehrkaffee5785]

aside from the absolutely mesmerizing songwriting, the film-making in this video is also not to be understated. Just pure art in its entirety

[@emilyangelotti2307]

My new favorite song!

[@olhaseraque]

Dear Lau Noah, “if a tree falls in love with a river” has been playing throughout the hours of the day, it fulfills the space so gently and so fully. it is “balsamo” to those who listen to it, thank you for sharing your immense being through story-telling and this song. so much love.

[@springroll6758]

very nice

[@devhelen5895]

He's look of quiet joy at the end, says everything about him.

[@pavkat5574]

Wow, beautiful. Thank you❤

[@nuriapuig5304]

Quan el talent, la maestria, la creativitat i el virtuosisme s'ajunten amb l'admiració mútua, amb el treball, la il·lusió i l'amistat es produeix la màgia que té aquesta peça. Quanta bellesa en tot el que hi ha: text, melodia, harmonia, veus, delicadesa de guitarres... Tot esdevé comunicació i els milers de receptors que tenim la sort de captar tot això som una mica més feliços. Gràcies Lau & Jacob. Grans artistes fent art junts. Un luxe per a la humanitat.

[@trinciacakewalk]

Absolutely beautiful music and lyrics. Thank you!

[@shanefiddle]

wow. just... wow.

[@Swordshreader]

Beyond Amazing.

[@yosieatelier]

music and poetry at its finest ♥️

[@paulosena584]

Awesome! Poetry at its best… also this song deserves an orquestra arrangement!

[@MarthaMiller-tq3dr]

This is so beautiful! Another reminder that we all are connected with love and consciousness….

[@milonso650]

wonderful.

[@kellachhaelan]

I've loved your music since I first heard it on your tiny desk appearance. I also really love Jacob's music. This is a really beautiful collaboration. Hope to be able to hear you live one day.

[@Mikschatube]

This is most beautiful: The song as well as its performance by Lau and Jacob. Such a wonderful melody and text. I'm thrilled.

[@happytobehere8179]

Beautiful indeed!

[@gr8tbigtreehugger]

Bravo!!!

[@mariaassuncao4377]

Linda mesmo. E a que canta com o Salvador Sobral tambem é muito linda

[@Hausch13]

Bajó Nick Drake del cielo y me dijo en un sueño que ustedes dos entendieron todo. ¡Gracias por esto!

[@sashakindel3600]

Neat how at 2:19 they switch so Jacob is the upper voice.

[@amadioscomedu8057]

exaaaaaaaactly so perfect

[@Quazlyy]

Such great harmony! Your voices complement one another really well. I stumbled upon this piece today and couldn’t stop listening

[@dianakahn545]

OMG - gorgeous - mellifluous - tose voices are wonderful together.

[@zMPHz]

I love this so much! ❤

[@Zanskarma]

Such a beautiful song. After reading the lyrics again, I am in tears.

[@rob3040]

This is so beautiful. There is also something so sad about it.

[@LiveMarianna]

Absolutly amazing... Crying literaly. So calm and warm. A Masterpiece 🪔

[@pati_flute]

Qué maravilla de canción 😍 gracias!!

[@yaskynemma9220]

Can someone explain why am I crying?

[@jakesazer-hopf8211]

So beautiful, this brings peace and joy to my soul

[@BrunoDeAngelis]

Esto es indescriptiblemente hermoso... gracias!

[@Pyroific]

this is so amazing, i love the way your voices fit together!

[@gabrielfranca6957]

So so so beautiful😭😭😭❤️❤️❤️

[@gabrielfranca6957]

This is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever heard!!! Joyful, mesmerizing ❤️

[@hadarginifarjun1835]

It really touched me thank you❤

[@AToolyTime]

This is great! I love it. :)

[@aob3868]

Added to tab 23. ❤️

[@MagikS2]

las 🐐

[@ArjanLoeve]

It has a little Beatle/Paul Mccartney vibes. Really great!

[@larissamorais1978]

masterpiece ❤️‍🩹

[@PaulsonJeanty]

❤

[@calexito9448]

"And she could show him proof of her existence when the summer rain kisses his lips" I'm not sure if they say "lips" or "leaves" but definitely is a precious ambiguity

[@ralphschmidt5194]

Freue mich auf Brescia Italy

[@nadenka_musica]

Música para el alma 💜

[@julianmitchell3035]

Hello next month of Spotify!

[@DAV1D_77]

I hope guitar tabs get released soon for this song!

[@CampsSha]

i'm struggling with the guitar tunning!

[@bensteinman2267]

I believe each string is tuned down a whole step.

[@CampsSha]

what is this collab??? i love it i love it i love iiiit!

[@thenerdster_]

👏👏👏

[@Blaueta]

❤

coisa mais linda da face da terra do mundo do universo meu deus ajuda

[@blueboyjournal]

24/08/2024: yesterday I made it back to Con Hall

[@germanpinzonjimenezmusic]

A New meaning of the concept of a song, in times when melody, harmony and content is reduced to corporative taste... Gracias Lau como dijo Ana N... "música para el alma"

[@gabrielfranca6957]

I can visualize a music video of this song with Daniel Bruson’s painting

[@oscargill423]

Who is this lady and how has she collaborated with both Jacob Collier and Adam Neely within four months? And the post-song dialogue... we need that in more songs

[@james_subosits]

Don't forget she's collaborated with Brad Mehldau and Chris Thile as well

[@oscargill423]

@@james_subosits Well I didn't know that

[@creeks-and-peaks]

Precisely how Jacob's voice was meant to be used.

[@fradopa]

si

[@JoelGalilee]

Very Molly Drake

[@bernardbigorgne2535]

Your " If A Tree Fallls In Love With A River" original is nicely performed Lau & Jacob. I am an french Author/Composer & I can propose you beautiful melodies (All Copyrighted) Wish you a pleasant weekend ahead. Kind regards....Bernard🌌.

[@xxd4rk_f1ngerxx89]

Tranquille tu fais ta pub toi

[@kaptnkirk2740]

Jacob should do much more of *this!* I dont like him performing solo. That's too much self-presentation and too little soul. He could be a great producer.

[@wayofthewicked]

this is pretty decent folks :)