# Lemon Tree (Fool's Garden song)

"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 labels Intercord and Encore, and became an international hit the following year. The song reached number 26 on the UK Singles Chart and remained at number one for four weeks in Germany. It also reached number one in Austria, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, and Sweden. 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."

## 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

## Certifications

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Austria (IFPI Austria) | Gold | 25,000$^*$ |
| Belgium (BEA) | Gold | 25,000$^*$ |
| France (SNEP) | Gold | 250,000$^*$ |
| France (SNEP) | Gold | 100,000$^‡$ |
| Germany (BVMI) | Platinum | 500,000$^^$ |
| Italy (FIMI) sales since 2009 | Platinum | 70,000$^‡$ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ) | Platinum | 10,000$^*$ |
| Norway (IFPI Norway) | Platinum | |
| Sweden (GLF) | Gold | 25,000$^^$ |
| Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) | Platinum | 50,000$^^$ |
| $^*$ Sales figures based on certification alone. $^^$ Shipments figures based on certification alone. $^‡$ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |||

## Release history

| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) |
| Europe | 3 November 1995 | CD | IntercordEncore |
| United Kingdom | 13 May 1996 | CDcassette | Encore |
| United States | 27 May 1997 | Contemporary hit radio | Universal |

## Covers and parodies

Dustin the Turkey recorded a Christmas-parody called "Christmas Tree". Taiwanese singer Tarcy Su released covers of the song (in both Mandarin and Cantonese) 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 Junkx [de]
* Mastering Engineer: Dirk Duderstadt and Marco Duderstadt
* Mixing: Junkx

#### Charts
##### Weekly charts

| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
| Germany (GfK) | 92 |
| Hungary (Dance Top 40) | 3 |
| Hungary (Rádiós Top 40) | 24 |
| Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100) | 32 |

### Year-end charts

| Chart (2021) | Position |
| Hungary (Dance Top 40) | 11 |
| Chart (2022) | Position |
| Hungary (Dance Top 40) | 43 |