Only two verses. That does seem incomplete. There are usually at least three. What is there is very good. I like the chorus very much. And I thought the same thing as i listened: an extended live solo would be fantastic, especially with McCusker in it.
During the last days I changed my mind: First I thought that this song is incomplete indeed, buy now I have come to the conclusion that this guitar solo is such a very important part of it, that it might replace another verse (if you know what I mean). It is not just the middle part that divides the two verses, it is an intregal part of the story. We use to expect a guitar solo just for a usual ingredient, ("does it have a solo? Cooool!)" But Mark always said that a solo or even guitar parts have to be there only when they fit to the song(writing). So what if the main part of the story is said with this solo?
And about the meaning of the song: Redbud Tree seems to have the same meaning as Six Blade Knife, it can indeed be or do anything to do, anything you want it to. Redbud Tree could also be a song about a guitar (REDbud Tree - well...) or songwriting and how the songs used to push or HUNT him in his early days and that they HAD to be uttered and that the guitar saved his life in a certain way... There are the "twiddly bits" in that solo ... The only word that disturbs me here is "certain death"...
Wrong thread I guess...
LE