Song
Poison Tree
From Ghost Towns · Track 13 · 2026
A Ghost Towns song whose supplied lyrics mix care for a family member with fear of passing down harm.
Lyrics · artist-supplied
You know that somewhere deep down inside the depths of me
You were a seed, you grew, who knew you’d be such a beautiful being
Eventually you’ll learn to sit in the shade of your own leaves
But your fruit will never fall too far from my tree
So take this as a warning,
Take this as a warning!
You’ll never know any peace
If you take any piece of me
You might be fruit from the poison tree
From the poison tree
‘Cause you came from me
Let all my branches shade you, you won’t see
How all my roots reach down to underneath
All the darkest forests where I used to sleep
I hope you never end up there, ‘cause I never like what I see.
So take this as a warning,
Take this as a warning!
You’ll never know any peace
If you take any piece of me
You might be fruit from the poison tree
From the poison tree
‘Cause you came from me
Please don’t end up like me
The rot of our family tree
Please don’t end up like I did
Got Half Of Something Tainted
Artist context
The artist wanted “Poison Tree” in the later/living-ghost portion of the project and described the dynamic as involving a living family member, with the narrator himself functioning as the ghost.
Working interpretation · analysis
Interpretation note: This is analysis of the supplied lyrics, not an authoritative statement of authorial intent. The living-family-member context above was supplied by the artist.
The seed grows into a “beautiful being,” but the narrator fears that the fruit may carry something harmful from the same tree. Branches offer shade while hidden roots reach into places the narrator hopes the other person never has to see. The repeated warning “if you take any piece of me” makes care and fear of passing on pain inseparable. The final plea not to “end up like me” keeps the possibility of a different life open, without saying whether the family pattern can be broken.
Themes
family, inheritance, care, fear, generational harm