“Ye Noble Big Pine Tree”
Description
A conversation between a singer and a majestic pine. The singer admits the tree's ancient dignity, but tells it of how the loggers will attack it and take it down, then goes on to the fate of the wood
Supplemental text
Ye Noble Big Pine Tree
Partial text(s)
*** A ***
From Franz Rickaby, Ballads and Songs of the Shanty-Boy
(1926), #12, pp. 62-64. From the author, W. N. Allen
("Shan T. Boy") of Wausau, Wisconsin.
'Twas on a cold and frosty morning
When the sunshine was adorning
The boughs of ev'ry lofty pine,
Making them in radiance shine.
Through the forest lone I wandered
Where a little brook meandered,
Gutgling o'er the rocks below,
Wading deep through ice and snow.
(17 additional stanzas)
Notes
Rickaby concedes that this piece, by the author of "The Banks of the Little Eau Pleine" [Laws C2] and "The Shanty Boy on the Big Eau Claire" [Laws C11] is probably not traditional, but includes it as a sample of Allen's work.
Most of Allen's work has a quirky side, and this is no exception, with lines such as "Your fall will sound like distant thunder, And fill the birds and squirrels with wonder...." "But seeing you're so sound and healthy, You'll make some lumberman more wealthy." But it seems more serious than most of his work. The tune is listed as "Will the Weaver." - RBW
References
- Rickaby 12, "Ye Noble Big Pine Tree" (1 text, 1 tune)
- ST Rick062 (Partial)
- BI, Rick062