"Lemon Tree" is a song by German band Fool's Garden from their third album, Dish of the Day (1995). The band's lead vocalist, Peter Freudenthaler, said that he wrote the song on a Sunday afternoon when he was waiting for his girlfriend who did not come. It was released as a single in November 1995 by Intercord and Encore Records and became an international hit the following year, remaining at number one for four weeks in Germany and also topping the charts of Austria, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, and Sweden. In the United Kingdom, the song reached number 26 on the UK Singles Chart. The band recorded a new version of the song for the 2009 compilation album High Times – The Best of Fools Garden.
Critical reception Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "This song by the eclectic German quintet has reached number 10 in the GSA Major Market Airplay chart and with good reason. The track is a cross between a catchy circus tune and late '60s bubblegum pop with trademark harmonies, which should appeal to the broadest of radio audiences."
Track listings
European CD single "Lemon Tree" – 3:11 "Finally" – 4:29
European maxi-CD single and UK CD single "Lemon Tree" – 3:11 (3:10 on UK release) "Finally" – 4:29 (4:30 on UK release) "Spirit '91" (dance-mix) – 4:11 (4:13 on UK release)
US and Canadian CD single "Lemon Tree" "Take Me"
Australian and New Zealand CD single "Lemon Tree" – 3:11 "Take Me" – 4:20 "Spirit '91" – 4:11
South African maxi-CD single "Lemon Dance" (single edit) – 3:52 "Lemon Tree" (club mix) – 6:16
Personnel All songs written by Peter Freudenthaler and Volker Hinkel Vocals: Peter Freudenthaler Bass: Thomas Mangold Drums: Ralf Wochele Guitar: Volker Hinkel Keyboards: Roland Röhl Breaking lamp sound: Jorick Bouw Artwork: Müller & Steeneck Stuttgart Bicchieri: Mattia Tugnoli Immersive Mixing Engineer, Immersive Mastering Engineer: Brad Smalling
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1996–1997)PeakpositionCanada (Nielsen SoundScan) 10Croatia (HR Top 40) 2Czech Republic (IFPI CR) 7Denmark (IFPI) 2Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 4Hungary (Mahasz) 4Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40) 1Israel (Israeli Singles Chart) Search "Lemon Tree" for Israeli chart history. 5Italy (Musica e dischi) 5Italy Airplay (Music & Media) 2Poland Airplay (Music & Media) 3Taiwan (IFPI) 1US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard) 13 Chart (2019)PeakpositionSlovenia (SloTop50) 44 Chart (2024)PeakpositionPoland (Polish Airplay Top 100) 59
Year-end charts Chart (1996)PositionAustria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) 9Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) 13Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) 18Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 7Europe (European Hit Radio) 5France (SNEP) 8Germany (Media Control) 5Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40) 4Israel (Israeli Singles Chart) 28Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 49Netherlands (Single Top 100) 65Norway (VG-lista) 6Sweden (Topplistan) 7Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) 4
Certifications
Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Europe3 November 1995CDUnited Kingdom13 May 1996EncoreUnited States27 May 1997Contemporary hit radioUniversal
Covers and parodies Dustin the Turkey recorded a Christmas-parody called "Christmas Tree"."Dustin - 20 Years A Pluckin' Out Now On DVD" . Taiwanese singer Tarcy Su released covers of the song (in both Mandarin and Cantonese)蘇慧倫 Tarcy Su【Lemon Tree】Official Music Video as did Korean singer Park Hye Kyung. Taiwanese-American singer-songwriter Joanna Wang made a cover of the song in 2011. Korean singer and composer, Hongjoong of the group Ateez, released a cover of the song on 4 May 2022.
Alle Farben and Fool's Garden version
On 8 January 2021, Alle Farben with Fool's Garden released a cover of "Lemon Tree".
Personnel From Tidal: Lyricist and composer: Peter Freudenthaler and Volker Hinkel Producer: Frans Zimmer and Mastering Engineer: Dirk Duderstadt and Marco Duderstadt Mixing: Junkx
Charts Weekly charts Chart (2021)Peakposition
Year-end charts Chart (2021) Position Hungary (Dance Top 40) 11
Chart (2022) Position Hungary (Dance Top 40) 43
References
External links Lyrics and music