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"Shake the Sugar Tree" is a song written by Chapin Hartford, and recorded by American country music singer Pam Tillis. It was released in August 1992 as the lead-off single from her album Homeward Looking Angel. "Shake the Sugar Tree" became Tillis' fourth Top Ten country hit, peaking at number 3 on Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs).

Content

In the song, a wife admonishes her husband for taking her and their relationship for granted too often, only responding when she threatens to leave ("You're like fruit from a fickle vine, you turn sweet in the nick of time / Love, you only come alive when you're losin' me") and concluding that sometimes she has to "shake the sugar tree" (provoke him) in order to "feel his love come falling all around ".

Singer-songwriter Stephanie Bentley sang the demo version of the song, and Tillis' producer, Paul Worley, incorporated Bentley's demo vocals as harmony vocals in the final recording.

Critical reception

Roch Parisien and Thom Jurek, who reviewed Homeward Looking Angel for Allmusic, cited the song as a standout on the album, calling it "sultry and sexy."

Chart positions

Year-end charts

References

1. Remz, Jeffrey B. (January 1996). "Stephanie Bentley hopes debut brings chestful of success". Country Standard Time. Retrieved 2007-08-05.
2. Parisien, Roch; Thom Jurek. "Homeward Looking Angel". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-05-13.
3. "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 1871." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. December 5, 1992. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
4. "Pam Tillis Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
5. "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1992". RPM. December 19, 1992. Retrieved August 15, 2013.

• 1992 singles
• Pam Tillis songs
• Song recordings produced by Paul Worley
• Arista Nashville singles
• Music videos directed by Steven Goldmann
• Songs written by Chapin Hartford
• 1992 songs
• Songs about trees