The Actual '73 Giving Tree Movie Spoken By Shel Silverstein

[LeyvaFam805]

The tree is happy because it gives, but the boy is always sad because he just takes. Moral- "It's better to give than to receive"

[chill3express3]

I remember seeing this when it originally aired and it always gives me a bit of melancholy while reinforcing some lessons about life.

[rg1488]

Why is this guy breathing so hard

[EntropicMisanthropic]

Which stage of life would you say you're in?

[bswan1955]

everything we need is provided for us, there shouldnt be money, god gave us everything we need on this beautiful planet we call earth, why dont people just accept the fact of what is?

[ShayKates]

Look you may think the kid is selfish and wrong but lets put it this way ;; The tree is our parents .. they give everything to us to make us happy they give up everything to see up smile ... same thing with the Tree . This Story is a Metaphor .

[juggaloryan3]

@ShayKates My mom and step dad mentally and physically abused me. Im not being sarcastic or looking for sympathy. Just saying

[imreadydoctor]

what a selfish dick

[WebVManReturns]

So the tree gives him everything he desires and all he does is plant his butt on her face.

[alovester1o]

i remeber reading this over n over when i was a kid and still everyday i remeber

[dvbion]

Some of my best friends have been trees...

[MiNonCapisco]

@dvbion ...that's a little sad

[thehoomizon22]

I never really understood the true meaning of this when i was a kid, but now i do...

[Gnarf87]

Freindzone level 99

[launchmusicc]

nice, but the animation was kinda lame....

[thune7]

If you empathize with the tree as if she were human, it's a really sad story, but if you know that the tree's true happiness was to give to the boy, then it's not sad at all. The boy didn't empathize with the tree as a human, but as a "Giving Tree". You don't feel bad for ice cream or salad when you eat it do you? ;)

[ChibiZone]

@thune7

The awkward moment when you realize that this is probably an analogy to God and humans.

[WebVManReturns]

@thune7 Actually, yes. A few weeks ago, I looked at my salad and thought about whether or not plants feel something when they are cut or pulled from the Earth for eating. Do they feel pain when they are cut? Are the plants still alive before rotting?

[AverynNorth]

This made me sad... Where's that map of Youtube, I need to get back to Equestria, the Bronies will cheer me up

[onenonlyprincess2]

RIP Shel Silverstine

[onenonlyprincess2]

Rip she'll silverstine

[Vader30400]

one picture of shel is scary O_O

[rodrij76]

cradle to grave

[OrangeJuiceeee]

aw man, i remember my sixth grade teacher reading this to me. really brings back memories. :')

[tubbymctubsta]

I can't handle this story. I always cry.

[timlove1]

This breaks my heart EVERY time I read the story. My kids don't understand why this story leaves me in tears. I have a LOT of guilt for the way I treated my mother. Thanks for posting.

[Exupery1976]

Man, Shell seems like a creeper - and that damn mouth harp. I'm off to The Little Prince!

[TheNextAvrilLavigne]

This story is too painful for me to read anymore

[defries121]

Love this story but the mans voice reading it sounded like a pedophile! Heavy breathing and lack of tone creeped me out a bit!!!

[guyNbluejeans]

@defries121 That's not a very kind thing to say. Mr. Silverstein, deceased, was a kind and talented soul and doesn't deserve to be smeared by clowns that think the way you do.

[EliteDoomer]

@guyNbluejeans Don't feed the trolls.

[guyNbluejeans]

@EliteDoomer Okay.

[EliteDoomer]

@guyNbluejeans They be just trying to rise you comrade.

[unklelemmy]

@EliteDoomer Me too. But that is what nakes it such a great story.

[jetboy99]

The boy never worked for anything in his life. He is completely selfish. After his failed marriage he sails away to escape his problems. I'm glad he's dead.

[OMGiLUVzZelda]

I never liked that boy, what a selfish bitch.

[BoonnTanicals]

This is the first book I started reading when I was 3 1/2 years old and everything about this book just brings back thoughts when I was little kid. I love Shel Silverstein and will continue till this day. :)

[1305assasin]

This is a beautiful and sad story,it tells about true and everlasting love that never dies.

[kdreamland]

At the end, the man doesn't need anything any more. he just needs to rest. forever.

[tabbytab11]

The tree reminds me of a mother. A mother cares for her child all her life and gives everything in herself to see her child prosper. Even though the boy took from the tree it was ok because there was love. Our mothers become sad when we children leave them but at the end when we return to them they are happy. Just as a real mother loves her child the tree loved that boy.

[kkkatie00]

Did this make anyone else cry?

[jjedberg]

@kkkatie00 Nope srry

[death0personified]

Man that tree wounds creep LOL, pedo-tree!!!1

[xXxrissarawrxXx]

Fuck the boy... He seriously took everything from the tree.... I wish someone would love me HALF as much as that the tree loved him! Like really? Why would you take EVERYTHING from someone who does everything for you?!

I dunno, this story breaks my heart./:

[mc12969]

Beautiful story for people of all ages -

[slowrider30]

The Tree Represents A Pedaphile

[kdreamland]

@slowrider30 no the tree represents a kid. the boy represents the sick pedo that has kidnapped and conditioned the tree to love him no matter what. so he takes and rapes and pimps out the tree. and in the end?

tree still loves him.

[HyaenusDominae]

This was favorite bedtime story as a child. It's about love and self-sacrifice and learning to appreciate what others give you. It's sad and yet happy and altogether beautiful. I could listen to it for the rest of my life.

[leeannalove]

I like this! It is such a classic that has so many deeper meanings. I really enjoyed hearing Shel narrating.

[meowshipss]

At least he used the whole tree I guess...

[FenixLites]

please stop writing what "it means" or "it represents". It means and represents many many things.

[markjamesnelson]

Did anyone else fucking hate the little boy when they read this as a child?

[DavidDTorkelson]

Somehow barely missed like button, so thought I'd add a comment to double 'like'

[HungraChicken]

@megamarsvin I agree. It'/

[HungraChicken]

Greedy basterd

[Aisheyru18]

Awww, That's so sad and sweet all at once. I loved reading this story, it made me so sad when i was little and happy all at once. Wonderful wonderful tree.

[MassiveMarket]

If you look for Silverstein's picture, he actually looks really intimidating.

[Sweetbadpuppy]

This is too sad...:'(

[wikkkidone92]

Simple message that still to this day goes unheard

[webkinzluvs]

I cried through the whole video.

[dylanfx67]

MGMT

[rubyberries]

Reduces me to a blubbering mess every time I hear/read this book! I can't go one run through without crying like a baby afterwards...and after all these years I still don't know why.

[Gersi176]

I really liked this book sooo much that i read it 20 times ahahnah :PP but i didnt really like how it ended, i was hoping that the guy had a kid and the kid would play on the tree or something :))

[brilliantmojo]

wow that was fukiiing deep

[tootzization]

i love this video:D

[infinityandbeyond98]

This whole video I was crying :')

Thank you shel Silverstein :)

Thank you for this poem

[TheVineyarder]

everyone has a giving tree..hopefully we dont abuse our tree..and we learn to love and return the tree's love

[SliderJunkie]

I hate that guy

[Clarkaraoke]

I wanted to stand up and applaud at the end of this. So beautiful. Grew a big rubbery one. Mantears.

[OCButterfly99]

So sad, so they both die. This story is depressing to me. I would never cut down my favorite tree ...take apples yes, share them , make pies and love the tree. So sad. :(

[crjaeckel31]

@OCButterfly99 it never said they died

[dmyersWhitehat]

Beautiful and sublime.  Shel was a genius.

[Darkwolfala7]

To me, this is like how greed comes into a person after their time of innocence is over.

I really felt sorry for the tree and the music is also saddening. The boy first asking for money, really bothered me.

In growing up, people can become corrupt and greedy and those who are too nice often get taken advantage up.

That's how I interpreted this.

[skydome29]

...and the cats in the cradle and the silver spoon, little boy blue and the man on the moon

[TOGSugarfoot]

@skydome29 I just came to this video after listening to that song

[skydome29]

@TOGSugarfoot My path was the exact opposite, while watching the video it reminded me of that song.

[MuleHouseProductios]

who came here after the collage humor video

[Lorenzalvin1]

@MuleHouseProductios yeah...your right dude...

[PatChat10]

@MuleHouseProductios LOL ME DUDE THAT"S FUNNY

[qxoc]

The givining tree to me sybolizes Jesus Christ, my parents, and people I love. When you love someone, you will do anything to make them happy!

[scheetz2000]

I remembered this book as a child and though I liked it, but now I think it is a sad example of a codependent relationship!

[sucrilhus]

The tree symbolizes Parents. They support us ever since we;re little children, they give us all they can.

The story shows that we should demonstrate our love in return. Reciprocity of affection.

[TheBlacKilluminati]

@sucrilhus thanks for realizing what The Giving Tree actually means, thats how i think of it.

[AntiSocialChannel85]

@sucrilhus

The story shows how some people are ungrateful.

You give and give and they take (like my x girlfriend) and in return they only use you, until they realize what they did it's too late.

[LiveLaughLove8489]

@sucrilhus also shows how selfless parents are they give everything they have and ask for nothing in return.

[BlammmSugnin]

:[

[absolutelylonely]

Oh, this is so sad and beautiful.



[esla90]

and this is so masochist

[esla90]

humankind sucks

[ChristianoCult]

So Beautiful

[falsecomment]

fake

[kianna021mard]

still makes me cry :\

[kibicow]

@kianna021mard me too :(

[AwesomenadroJ]

@kibicow @kianna021mard and me.

[Blankname101]

Good times :)

[WVpoker00]

He should have cut the tree down to make more books!!! Best story ever!!!

[alyssamarsingill]

my favorite book when I was a child and still is,

[VideosStorm]

This started the band "The killing Tree" ... A great band with Tim McIlrath (singer of Rise Against) check it out !

[piepiepie11111]

Trees are not sentient, thus incapable of having feelings.

[facedintheface]

@piepiepie11111 you very articulately missed the point.

[muntasir20]

@piepiepie11111 are you a retard its a metaphorical story its not supposed to be taken literally

[biffmartin90210]

This is soooo old skool.

[ArtypNk]

Threes don't have them nerve systems, so stop bawwing.

[Snipervenomaz]

@ArtypNk

Is more than that =P

[Theniggerable]

@ArtypNk fag

[charsk00ter]

This made me cry and it still does.

[allenlovemary]

how sad.. :'(

[Nekologic]

i cried. 

[eonsian]

When my dad used to tell this story from heart when i was like 4 i tried not to cry

[nactan]

giving tree > jesus, because god never runs out

[kdreamland]

@nactan nope, because the tree visibily 'loses' parts of itself here. we know that doesn't happen with God, so....

[nactan]

@kdreamland er... that was kind of my point?

[kdreamland]

@nactan your comment didn't really make it clear, I thought you were agreeing with it.

[nactan]

@kdreamland yes, the tree loses its parts and god doesn't. that makes the tree better because it ain't getting back what it gives away. god has no such concerns, so it would be morally questionable for him NOT to give himself away. not so with the tree.

[VickVinegar]

@nactan

Uhm.. I'm not sure if you know anything about Shel Silverstein but I would be willing to bet that this isn't about God. The boy represents man and how through selfishness and greed we are destroying mother earth.

[nactan]

@VickVinegar ...i never said this is about god. i said this tree's self-sacrifice is nobler than jesus'.

[nactan]

@VickVinegar (btw, i don't care about Mother Earth either. in my opinion, this is about parenthood.)

[nactan]

@VickVinegar (and this is not about the tree's destruction, it's about willing self-sacrifice for the boy's benefit, rather like jesus', except this is nobler imo, because the tree isn't comforted/deluded by fables of eternal life)

[TheLastBrainLeft]

Bawwwwwwww thread?

(post this link)

/thread

[mamontovda]

i cried

[TheTimSheahan]

This is one of the simplest and best stories ever told. Senior year in high school I wrote a 6 page essay on this story for AP Lit.

[GOODHAYA]

turns out shel is a pot head.....man makes a whole lot more sense now. "i want some money, can you give me some money"

[GOODHAYA]

I loved this book when i was little. one of the first books I read. in ways i liked it but in ways i hate it. I have almost never been materialistic but i love giving to people people i love and this book may have something to do with it, God knows best.

I hate greedy people that are never grateful.

the one thing I disliked about it in hindsight, is that fact that I always hated change, Im barley stating to accept changes. So i guess Im #TEAMTREE lol

[Mrgettygirl]

When I read this book when I was younger... I decided I will never have kids.

[sukumvit]

What an absolutely awful story... evil passed off as "nice". I would never expose my children to this. Go read Ayn Rand or Terry Goodkind instead

[218Deshara]

@sukumvit There is no moral, and the story doesn't call the tree nice. The tree is happy when it gives things to the boy, so by all rights, if it wants to give things away, let it be happy by doing so. Not everything needs to be moralised.

[DaveTheSamurai]

@sukumvit Your wrong the true story is :"To have everything is to have nothing. To have nothing is to have everything." Can't you see in the end the tree wanted nothing but happiness he got the boy. The boy having nothing in the end but sadness got the tree stump. "It is better to give then to take". Is the moral.

[mmg1123]

@sukumvit how is this evil?

[ElvizaPelvis]

@sukumvit So, read other books made from trees? Precisely.

[megamarsvin]

How people end up angry and swearing at each other on a video like this I will never understand. Youtube truly is amazing.

[MoogledKupo]

@megamarsvin fuck you bitch youtube is shit!!!!!!!!! IDIOT

[megamarsvin]

@MoogledKupo I see what you did there.

[joey3491]

@megamarsvin fuck you

[joey3491]

@megamarsvin (i was obviously kidding)

[ProtoFalzar]

47 dislikers must really fucking hate apples!

[skids2177]

whoever hit the dislike button, fuck you and your unborn children. you're an inspiration for birth control!

[thatsnotchocolat]

i remember a teacher reading this book to me in elementary school. :|

[rogernator5000]

I didn't cry, but I admit it is sad

[pesadilla143]

The dislikers are soul-less b@st@rds

[dalepremier]

LIBERALS are the boy. CONSERVATIVES are the tree. Think about it.

[hangsore]

@dalepremier your an idiot. think about it.

[ChasingDestination]

@dalepremier

It's a fucking book about giving all you can to the people you love. Think about it.

[TheLastBrainLeft]

@dalepremier What makes this story so good is that everyone sees what they want to see in it. To me, the tree represents the unconditional love of a parent, the boy as the child who may live their whole lives without ever comprehending it.

[ophello]

@dalepremier

Dalepremier is a stupid asshole. Think about it.

[BoggleDongMongerFlog]

This guy sounds like he's jacking off as he reads this.

[davehutchinson67]

@BoggleDongMongerFlog fuck you asshole....Shel had more talent in one little pinky than you or anyone you will ever know in your entire life will ever have...believe that..this guy was a poet, author, songwriter, singer, you name it...a consumate artist.

[BoggleDongMongerFlog]

@davehutchinson67 Reguardless, he sounds like he's jacking off as he reads.

[Matthewneubauer]

I finally found it:). My girlfriends never read the book so ima show this to her. I cried at the end. This is the best book ever. I grew up reading it:)

[figureitoutmannn]

My favorite children's book. I still cannot read it to my daughter without tearing up a bit at the end. Completely unrelated: years ago, I used this as a metaphor at work with an irate, demanding, inconsolable customer...after I opened up a schedule that did not even exist, brought in people that weren't supposed to be there just for him and he still wanted more. I said,"I'm done! I'm a stump! Sit on me!"

[milkyway531]

this story made me cry :'(

[depechemodefan001]

@milkyway531 and I thought I was the only one who cried.... :´(

[bjkatt7]

This is so beautiful

[StephanieLisaTara]

Shel lived in the same world we do - a world fraught with problems but also with hops, the hope of man's good and kind heart. I love his ability to poke fun and get us to smile, whisper and get us to listen, sniff and get us to cry, what Shel Silverstein was - in fact - brilliant - he got us to realize and understand and take action. To make change. Gold bless you Shel!

[Kurtiz76]

So many metaphors can be taken from this. For me, it was my Mother. I love you Mom.

[M2Oo9R]

I read this today, amazing.

[yani6382]

if only there were people out there like this...

[depechemodefan001]

@yani6382 There are....my parents I'm so lucky, only I don't take advantage of them like that, and as a parent I'm like that too, only I want to teach my kids to be independent also

[AGreedyTree]

this is narrated by michael jackson

[StephanieLisaTara]

exactly - desoan -- the moral is an afterthought i think, shel's work is so real and riveting and pokes fun at establishment for that was the time period he wrote inside of, i think the giving tree is a marvelous statement on many levels and folks can choose the one that means the most to them....any piece of art that makes a person think - has achieved its original goal. :)

[NickoRules17]

he sounds like Herbert the pervert 

[clonetrooper1998]

i read the book in first grade. im pretty sure i was the only person who started crying back then

[sallyblack13]

@clonetrooper1998 nope i cried

[doohgk]

@clonetrooper1998 dont know if I cried but it made me rediculously sad

[heinkle1]

The narrator sounds like a pervert

[PlatypusTM]

@heinkle1 you sound like a moron

[heinkle1]

@PlatypusTM And you sound like a troll who isn't getting enough at home. Cunt.

[RebeckaSarkozy]

I cried 30 years ago and it made me cry again today! Love this story!



[CorruptedxMinds]

Read this book in 3rd grade. I'm in college and I still love this book.

[lacrazysquaw]

This book represented JESUS CHRIST to me..He gave us HIS ALL....In the end HE IS OUR RESTING PLACE....

[CorruptedxMinds]

@lacrazysquaw amen!

[ophello]

@lacrazysquaw

STOP USING ALL CAPS. You sound like another JESUS FREAK.

Oh wait, you are.

[Punchmaaasteeerrr]

Wanted: narrator for video adaptation of children's book. Breathy sex offender preferred.

[fauntos]

What an ungrateful mother fucker, the tree gave him everything and he didn't even think about it twice when he cut off her branches and trunk.