"Are You, Are You Coming to the Tree" Lyrics from The Hunger Games The phrase "are you, are you coming to the tree" is the iconic opening line from "The Hanging Tree" , a haunting folk song central to Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games series, particularly Mockingjay. Originally written within the story's universe as a forbidden District 12 ballad, it gained massive real- world fame through Jennifer Lawrence's vocal performance in the 2014 film The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 , composed by James Newton Howard.

This track blends eerie Appalachian-style melody with themes of rebellion, love, and execution, symbolizing defiance against Panem's Capitol. Its repetitive, hypnotic structure made it a viral hit, topping charts in multiple countries upon release and sparking countless covers on YouTube and TikTok even into 2026.

Full Lyrics (as Sung by Jennifer Lawrence)

Here's the complete set of lyrics from the official film version, pieced together across verses for clarity. Note slight variations exist between the book's text and the recorded song.

Are you, are you
Coming to the tree?
They strung up a man,
They say who murdered three.
Strange things did happen here,
No stranger would it be
If we met at midnight
In the hanging tree.

Are you, are you
Coming to the tree?
Where dead man called out
For his love to flee.
Strange things did happen here,
No stranger would it be
If we met at midnight
In the hanging tree.

Are you, are you
Coming to the tree?
Where I told you to run,
So we'd both be free.
Strange things did happen here,
No stranger would it be
If we met at midnight
In the hanging tree.

Are you, are you
Coming to the tree?
Wear a necklace of hope,
Side by side with me.
Strange things did happen here,
No stranger would it be
If we met at midnight
In the hanging tree.

The song loops these motifs, building emotional intensity.

Story Behind the Song

In the Hunger Games lore, "The Hanging Tree" tells of a man hanged for murder who beckons his lover to join him in death or rebellion at the gallows tree—mirroring Katniss Everdeen's arc as a symbol of resistance. Suzanne Collins drew from real American folk traditions like "MacPherson's Lament." In real life, Jennifer Lawrence, despite initial reluctance, delivered a raw, unpolished take that director Francis Lawrence called "perfectly imperfect," propelling it to over 1 billion Spotify streams by 2026.

  • Cultural Impact : Became an anthem for dystopian fiction fans; remixed in EDM and folk genres.
  • Recent Trends : Reddit's r/Hungergames still debates its ties to prequel Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023), with theories linking it to character Lucy Gray Baird's fate as of late 2024 posts.
  • Variations : Book lyrics are more fragmented; film adds the "necklace of hope" verse for uplift.

Why It Resonates Today

Even in January 2026, searches for these lyrics spike with Hunger Games anniversary marathons and TikTok challenges reenacting the "midnight" scene. Forums like Reddit mix nostalgia with fan fiction, imagining "what if the tree could sing back?"—echoing viral memes from 2024.

TL;DR : "The Hanging Tree" lyrics center on a secretive midnight rendezvous at a gallows, symbolizing forbidden love and revolt—full verses above from the Jennifer Lawrence version.

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