Lemon Tree

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The Kingston Trio

About Lemon Tree

"Lemon Tree" is a folk song written by Will Holt in the late 1950s. The tune is based on the Brazilian folk song Meu limão, meu limoeiro, arranged by José Carlos Burle in 1937 and made popular by Brazilian singer Wilson Simonal. The song compares love to a lemon tree: "Lemon tree very pretty, and the lemon flower is sweet, but the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat." The song has been recorded by Peter, Paul and Mary, Chad & Jeremy, The Kingston Trio, The Seekers, Bob Marley and The Wailers, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, Sandie Shaw, and Roger Whittaker. In 1965, Trini Lopez recorded the most successful version of the song which hit number twenty on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Billboard Middle Road Singles chart. It was adapted as a jingle in the 1960s for Lemon Pledge. A reference is made to the song in the Seinfeld episode ‘The Phone Message' (Season 2, Episode 4, 17:38). Another television reference has the character Jefferson singing it during a dream sequence in the Married With Children episode ‘Lookin' for a Desk in All the Wrong Places'(Season 6, Episode 5, 17:00). 


Year:
1961
89 

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The Kingston Trio

The Kingston Trio is an American folk and pop music group that helped launch the folk revival of the late 1950s to late 1960s. The group started as a San Francisco Bay Area nightclub act with an original lineup of Dave Guard, Bob Shane, and Nick Reynolds. It rose to international popularity, fueled by unprecedented sales of 33⅓ rpm long-playing record albums (LPs), and helped to alter the direction of popular music in the U.S. more »

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5 facts about this song

Interpretation by Chad & Jeremy
"Lemon Tree" was covered by the English singing duo Chad & Jeremy in 1965. - Their version of the song was included in their third studio album, "I Don't Want to Lose You Baby".
Interpretation by Peter, Paul, and Mary
The American folk music trio Peter, Paul, and Mary covered "Lemon Tree" in 1962. - Their poignant version of the song was part of their debut self-titled album. - The album reached number one on the Billboard magazine Top LPs chart in early 1963. - They often performed "Lemon Tree" at their concerts and it became one of their most well-known songs.
Interpretation by The Kingston Trio
The American folk and pop music group The Kingston Trio released their version of the song in their 1961 album "Goin' Places". - Their cover of "Lemon Tree" became popular during the American folk music revival.
Interpretation by Trini Lopez
Trini Lopez, an American singer, and guitarist performed "Lemon Tree" on his debut live album "Trini Lopez at PJ's" in 1963. - This album reached number one on Cashbox magazine's pop albums chart and number two on the Billboard 200.
General Facts
"Lemon Tree" is a folk song written by Will Holt in the late 1950s. - It is based on a Brazilian folk song "Meu limão, Meu limoeiro". - The song uses the lemon tree as a metaphor for love, specifically focusing on the bitterness and disappointment that can come from a failed love affair. - It has been covered by numerous artists from various musical genres around the world. - Each of these versions by Chad & Jeremy, Peter, Paul, and Mary, The Kingston Trio and Trini Lopez contributes to the song's enduring popularity and has brought new interpretations to its meaning and sound.

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