Feed the Tree
{{Short description|1993 single by Belly}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Feed the Tree
| cover = Belly Feed the Tree.jpg
| alt =
| caption = 7-inch cover
| type = single
| artist = Belly
| album = Star
| B-side = "Trust in Me", "Dream on Me", "Star"
| released = {{start date|1993|1|11}}{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1993/Music-Week-1993-01-09.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=6|date=January 9, 1993|access-date=June 20, 2021}}
| recorded =
| studio = Sound Emporium (Nashville, Tennessee){{cite AV media notes|title=Star|title-link=Star (Belly album)|others=Belly|year=1993|type=US CD album booklet|publisher=Sire Records, Reprise Records|id=9 45187-2}}
| genre = Alternative rock
| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=28}}
| writer = Tanya Donelly
| producer = Belly, Gil Norton
| prev_title = Gepetto
| prev_year = 1992
| next_title = Now They'll Sleep
| next_year = 1995
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|RQJjUbMrt8w|"Feed the Tree}}}}
}}
"Feed the Tree" is a song by American alternative rock band Belly, released as the band's first single from their debut album, Star, in 1993. It is the band's biggest hit, reaching number one on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 32 on the UK Singles Chart. According to lead singer Tanya Donelly, the song is a metaphor about commitment and respect, with the tree being a place on a large farm where a family would be buried.[http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=5577 Songfacts.com]
Reception
The song was ranked number 24 on VH1's "40 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the 90s".{{cite web|url=http://toponehitwonders.com/1990s/vh1s-40-greatest-one-hit-wonders-of-the-90s/|title=VH1's 40 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the '90s|website=TopOneHitWonders|date=May 8, 2011|access-date=May 21, 2018|archive-date=November 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115212034/http://toponehitwonders.com/1990s/vh1s-40-greatest-one-hit-wonders-of-the-90s/|url-status=dead}} It was also a popular radio hit in Australia, coming in at number 25 on the Triple J Hottest 100 countdown for 1993.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100_08/history/1993.htm|title=Triple J Hottest 100 1993|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Company|access-date=November 22, 2018}}
Pitchfork said the song, "takes advantage of Donelly's talent for punching holes in the wall with a killer chorus. Tom Gorman's serpentine riff coils around the verses while bassist Fred Abong and drummer Chris Gorman keep their rhythms flippy-floppy."{{cite web|title=The 250 Best Songs of the 1990s|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/the-best-songs-of-the-1990s/|work=Pitchfork|author=Alfred Soto|date=September 27, 2022 }}
Track listings
All songs were written by Tanya Donelly except where noted.
US CD and cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=Feed the Tree|others=Belly|year=1993|type=US CD single disc notes|publisher=Sire Records, Reprise Records|id=2-18570}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Feed the Tree|others=Belly|year=1993|type=US cassette single sleeve|publisher=Sire Records, Reprise Records|id=18570-4}}
- "Feed the Tree" (remix) – 3:42
- "Star" (full band version) – 2:59
UK 7-inch and cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=Feed the Tree|others=Belly|year=1993|type=UK 7-inch single sleeve|publisher=4AD Records|id=AD 3001}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Feed the Tree|others=Belly|year=1993|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=4AD Records|id=AD C 3001}}
- "Feed the Tree"
- "Dream on Me"
UK 12-inch and CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Feed the Tree|others=Belly|year=1993|type=UK 12-inch single sleeve|publisher=4AD Records|id=BAD 3001}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Feed the Tree|others=Belly|year=1993|type=UK CD single liner notes|publisher=4AD Records|id=BAD 3001 CD}}
- "Feed the Tree"
- "Trust in Me" {{small|(Robert Sherman and Richard Sherman)}}
- "Dream on Me"
- "Star"
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (1993) !Peak |
| scope="row"|Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.bubblingdownunder.com/2025/02/week-commencing-22-february-1993.html | title=Bubbling Down Under Week commencing 22 February 1993 |website=Bubbling Down Under|access-date= 28 February 2025}}
|158 |
|---|
| {{single chart|UK|32|date=19930123|rowheader=true|access-date=March 21, 2018}} |
| scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1993-05-22/|title=Billboard Hot 100|magazine=Billboard|date=May 22, 1993|access-date=August 20, 2023}}
|95 |
| scope="row"|US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-airplay/1993-03-06/|title=Alternative Airplay|magazine=Billboard|date=March 6, 1993|access-date=August 20, 2023}}
|1 |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (1993) !Position |
| scope="row"|US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=The Year in Music: Top Modern Rock Tracks|magazine=Billboard|volume=105|issue=52|page=YE-39|date=December 25, 1993}}
|5 |
|---|
{{col-end}}