Song of the Day 12/1: Cat Stevens, “King of Trees”

The march of development can seem unstoppable, especially in eastern Sussex County. Most protests about it take the form of debates about traffic impact and emergency response times, but sometimes the stakes are more sentimental.

In Milton, the site of increasing development as beach development spreads north, a convenience store that’s been approved for a lot on the northern edge of town has a group of longtime residents consternated. They’ve mounted a campaign to convince developers to spare a 100-year-old pecan tree that’s slated to go under the ax.

Skeptical as I am, I recall a similar effort that bore fruit – specifically, acorns – back in the day. IIRC, it was the early ’80s when DelDOT was widening East Chestnut Hill Road (Delaware 4) just southeast of Newark. A large, mature oak tree was slated for removal until citizens lobbied the agency to spare it. After much pleading, the road was rerouted and the tree was spared; it still stands in the improvised median. If DelDOT bureaucrats can be persuaded, why not executives at Royal Farms?

The tree Cat Stevens sang about on this track from his 1974 LP “Buddha and the Chocolate Box” met a grimmer fate. This live version, recorded that year in Japan, is better than the studio cut because Stevens gives it a more impassioned reading. He leaves no doubt – he really loved that tree. Better luck to Milton’s pecan protectors.