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Roots Before Branches by Room For Two is featured in Goodbye, the twenty-second and final episode of Season Three. It is sung by Finn and Rachel with back-up from the New Directions.

Finn admits to Rachel that he's breaking up with her and, instead of getting married, she's going to go to New York and he's going to try and make his father's dishonourable discharge an honorable one. As Rachel tries to take it in, Finn assures her in the car that everything is going to be all right, and that she should not fight with him. As they get out of the car, the song begins and Finn takes out Rachel's suitcase.

They sing as they walk to the train with Rachel wishing farewell to the New Directions members, as well as Emma and Will. Finn and Rachel embrace and kiss one more time before Rachel boards the train as it starts to move. She cries and waves goodbye. Finn runs after the train, but as it goes faster, Rachel isn't able to see him and the others anymore. She continues to cry as she arrives at New York, and strolls through the streets with conflicted emotions. The third season comes to an end as Rachel walks through a New York City street with her suitcase trailing behind her.

The full version of the song appears in the episode, however it is featured as a Rachel solo for the episode version. It is the final song of the episode, as well as the final song of Season Three.

Lyrics[]

Rachel:
Hey, hey
So many things to do and say
But I can't seem to find my way
But I wanna know how

I know I'm meant for something else
But first I gotta find myself
But I don't know how

Rachel (Finn):
Oh, why (Oh) do I reach (Oh) for the stars (Oh)
When I (Oh) don't have wings (Oh) to carry (Oh) me that far? (Oh, oh)
I gotta have

Finn and Rachel:
Roots before branches

Rachel:
To know who I am
Before

Finn and Rachel:
I know who I wanna be
And faith to take chances

Rachel:
To live like I see

Finn and Rachel:
A place in this world for me, oh oh

Rachel (Finn):
Sometimes I don't wanna feel
(Sometimes I don't wanna feel)
And forget the pain is real
(And forget the pain is real)
Put my head in the clouds
(Oh, ooh)

Oh, I start to run and then I fall
(Start to run and then I fall)
Thinking I can't get it all
(Thinking I can't get it all)
Without my feet on the ground
(Oh, ooh)

There's always a seed before there's a rose
The more (Oh) that it rains (Oh), the more I (Oh) will grow (Oh, oh)
Gotta have

Finn and Rachel:
Roots before branches

Rachel:
To know who I am
Before I

Finn and Rachel:
Know who I wanna be
And faith to take chances

Rachel:
To live like I see

Finn and Rachel:
A place in this world for me, oh oh

Rachel (Finn):
Whatever comes, I know how to take it
Learn to be strong, I won't have to fake it
Oh, you're understanding, oh

But we can come and do what's best
Roaming north and south, east and west
But I'll still be standing
I'm (Oh) standing (Oh)
If I have

Finn and Rachel:
Roots before branches

Rachel:
To know who I am (Finn: To know who I am)
Before I know who I'm (with Finn: gonna be)

Finn and Rachel:
And faith, oh, to take chances
To live like I see a place in this world
(New Directions: Oh, oh, oh, ohh, ohh)

Rachel:
Gotta have roots

Finn and Rachel with New Directions:
Before branches (Finn with New Directions: Branches)

Rachel:
To know who I am
Before I

Rachel with New Directions:
Know who I wanna be (Finn: Who I wanna be)
And faith

Finn and Rachel with New Directions:
To take chances
And live like I see a place in this world

Rachel:
For me, oh oh
I gotta have roots before branches, oh yeah

Rachel:
Hey, hey
So many things to do and say
But I can't seem to find my way
But I wanna know how

I know I'm meant for something else
But first I gotta find myself
But I don't know how

Rachel (Finn):
Oh, why (Oh) do I reach (Oh) for the stars (Oh)
When I (Oh) don't have wings (Oh) to carry (Oh) me that far? (Oh, oh)
I gotta have

Finn and Rachel:
Roots before branches

Rachel:
To know who I am
Before

Finn and Rachel:
I know who I wanna be
And faith to take chances

Rachel:
To live like I see

Finn and Rachel:
A place in this world for me, oh oh

Rachel:
Sometimes I don't wanna feel
And forget the pain is real
Put my head in the clouds

Oh, I start to run and then I fall
Thinkin' I can't get it all
Without my feet on the ground

There's always a seed before there's a rose
The more that it rains, the more I will grow
Gotta have
Roots before branches

To know who I am
Before I
Know who I wanna be
And faith to take chances

To live like I see
A place in this world for me, oh oh

Whatever comes, I know how to take it
Learn to be strong, I won't have to fake it
Oh, you're understanding, oh

But we can come and do what's best
Roaming north and south, east and west
But I'll still be standing
I'm standing
If I have

Roots before branches
To know who I am
Before I know who I'm gonna be

And faith, oh, to take chances
To live like I see a place in this world

Gotta have roots
Before branches

To know who I am
Before I
Know who I wanna be
And faith

To take chances
And live like I see a place in this world

For me, oh oh
I gotta have roots before branches, oh yeah

Trivia[]

  • The original performers of the songs, Adam Anders and Nikki Anders, are the vocal coaches for The Glee Project and Glee, respectively.
  • At the end of the song, it appears an extra almost bumps into Rachel, then walks in the other direction.
  • At the end of the song, when Rachel walks away with her suitcase trailing behind her, we can see a large crowd watching the filming of the scene. 
  • Fans watching the filming of this scene in New York reported that Rachel was actually performing Marry the Night by Lady Gaga. Instead, the song Marry the Night, was featured in the Season Five episode, A Katy or A Gaga by Starchild. 

Mistakes[]

  • At the beginning of the song, as Finn goes to Rachel's door, the shadow of a boom mic is visible against the vehicle.

Gallery[]

Videos[]

Room_For_Two_-_Roots_Before_Branches_(HQ)

Room For Two - Roots Before Branches (HQ)

Roots_Before_Branches_(Full_Performance)_1080_HD

Roots Before Branches (Full Performance) 1080 HD

Roots_Before_Branches_Glee_HD_FULL_STUDIO_-_The_Music,_The_Graduation_Album

Roots Before Branches Glee HD FULL STUDIO - The Music, The Graduation Album

Glee_-_Root_Before_Branches_-_Acapella_Version

Glee - Root Before Branches - Acapella Version

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