Mangrove Love Song (When Your Branch Broke)

Originally written on February 26, 2006 as part of a class presentation on mangrove distribution in creeks on the Daintree River in Australia. We decided a country dirge was appropriate for the subject.

Words and music by David, Matt, and Kristen. Harmonica and Norm Duke bridge by Matt. Harmony vocals by Kristen. Soul vocals by Chris. Background vocals by the OSP Australia Singers. This version was recorded live on a single mic in Brisbane, Australia.



Download Recording or Watch Debut Video

Verse 1
The first time I saw your buttress flare,
The sweet music of mosquitoes hung in the air.
I breathed in your fragrant pits of mud
Felt your rough bark and smooth young bud
Tasted the salt you excrete from your pore
I knew I had to come back for some more
It all began on that warm summer day
A love that flourished in the rain’s cool spray

Chorus
When your branch broke, you broke my heart
And I landed in the mud and was back at the start
I saw my bleeding soul in your oozing red sap
How did I ever fall into your trap?

Verse 2
Thinking back on the days of estuarine delight
Those pneumatophores, they just felt so right
Your propogules were always on my mind
How could I have been so blind?
I couldn’t see through your tangled web of roots
Your slippery branches didn’t hold up my boots
Did you think of how it’d make me feel
Leaving me to be to be crocs’ next meal?

Bridge (spoken)
Well mangroves, I’ve known a few in my day. Rhizophora, she was the first, she was nice, but those prop roots wandered off way too soon. Sonneratia, well her apples turned out to be a whole lotta sour and not a lotta sweet. Bruguiera, oh sweet Brugy, those knee roots had a mind of their own. And now Xylocarpus, I thought you were the one, till I found myself face down in the mud and with one o your cannonballs laying by my side. So my advice to all you guys out there, they may seem great at first, but stay away from them mangroves, cuz you’ll only get hurt . . . big time. I been hurt before, and I’ll be hurt again, cuz I’m in too deep. But take the advice of me, Norm Duke, a hard core mangrove addict, they’ll love you, they’ll leave you, and they’ll ruin you.