Belly – “Feed the Tree” (1993)

Dream-pop mysticism meets ’90s alt-rock edge.

When Belly’s “Feed the Tree” hit the airwaves in 1993, it was more than just a song — it was a revelation. As the lead single from their debut album Star, this track was a defining moment in the alternative rock explosion of the early ‘90s. With Tanya Donelly, formerly of Throwing Muses and The Breeders, at the helm, the song blends gritty guitar textures with dreamy, surreal lyrics, making it impossible to categorize.

On the surface, “Feed the Tree” feels like a cryptic folk tale wrapped in fuzzed-out guitar, but there’s more beneath the surface. The song hums with themes of mortality, love, respect, and the beauty of nature. Donelly’s voice is both ethereal and fierce, floating delicately over the music like a lullaby you can’t quite remember — a haunting dream you can’t escape.

 “Take your hat off, boy, when you’re talking to me / And be there when I feed the tree…”

Those lines, tender and mysterious, linger long after the song ends. There’s a softness and eeriness, a sensation of being drawn into something larger than yourself. It’s a rare combination of warmth and chill — a song that whispers and stings at once.

The track didn’t just capture attention; it became a surprise hit, rising to #1 on Billboard’s Modern Rock chart. With “Feed the Tree,” Belly carved out a space for themselves as one of the few female-fronted bands of the grunge era to make it into the mainstream.

A truly haunting alt-rock gem, Feed the Tree remains a timeless, mystical piece of the ’90s alt-rock tapestry. Every note feels like a whisper from another world, one that stays with you, endlessly echoing in your mind.