Shaking the Tree (song)

"Shakin' the Tree" is a 1989 song by Youssou N'Dour and Peter Gabriel from the Youssou N'Dour album The Lion. Released as a single, it reached number 61 on the UK official singles chart on 3 June 1989.

The following year, Gabriel released a new version on his greatest hits album Shaking the Tree, altering the title slightly and recording a new vocal take. This version was released as a double A-side single with "Solsbury Hill", which reached number 57 on the UK official singles chart on 29 December 1990.

Composition and versions
The song follows a verse-chorus structure and its lyrics relate to the desire for female liberation in Senagal. Some of the vocals were sung in N'Dour's native Wolof language. To promote the song, an accompanying music video was filmed in Africa.

During the 1993–1994 Secret World Tour, an eight-foot tree designed by Gabriel and Robert Lepage emerged from the middle of a circular stage. A live recording from this tour was included on Gabriel's Secret World Live album in 1994.

David Bottrill was commissioned to remix the song as a b-side for Gabriel's 1993 "Kiss that Frog" single. Versions with additional vocals by Shaggy appeared on the soundtracks to Jungle 2 Jungle (1997) and The Wild Thornberrys Movie (2002). The Bottril and Jungle 2 Jungle remixes were included on Gabriel's 2019 Flotsam and Jetsam compilation album.

Legacy
Ghanaian writer Meri Nana-Ama Danquah highlighted the song in her book, Shaking the Tree, saying that she drew "a lot of inspiration from the lyrics, which encourage women to challenge the status quo, to be the architects of our future."

Track listing

 * 7-inch single (1989)
 * 1) Youssou N'Dour & Peter Gabriel: "Shakin' the Tree" – 5:38
 * 2) Youssou N'Dour: "Old Tucson" – 4:20


 * CD/12-inch single (1989)
 * 1) Youssou N'Dour & Peter Gabriel: "Shakin' the Tree" – 7:13
 * 2) Youssou N'Dour: "Old Tucson" – 4:20
 * 3) Youssou N'Dour: "Sweeping the Leaves" – 4:53

Personnel

 * Youssou N’Dour – lead and backing vocals
 * Peter Gabriel – lead and backing vocals, Yamaha CP-80, Prophet, Roland D-50
 * George Acogny – CMI percussion sequencing, guitars, backing vocals
 * Guy Barker – trumpet
 * John Barclay – trumpet
 * Pete Beachill – trumpet
 * Roger Bolton – drum programming
 * Simon Clark – organ, piano, keyboard bass
 * Habib Faye – guitar, bass
 * Manu Katché – drums
 * David Rhodes – electric and acoustic guitars
 * Phil Todd – saxophones