Lyr Add: I'm Tying the Leaves So They Won't Come..

Subject: LYR ADD: I'm Tying The Leaves So......
From: Ralph Butts
Date: 06 Aug 98 - 04:11 PM

I found this request buried in another thread. A favorite of mine, but oooollllld!.....Tiger

I'M TYING THE LEAVES SO THEY WON'T COME DOWN
Sung by Mac and Bob

Playmates were they, girl and lad.
She's home today, lad feels sad.
Doctor, he called, whispered low:
"When the first autumn leaves fall, then she must go."

Lad, with a tear, climbs a tree.
"I'll keep her here." murmurs he.
Big man in blue sternly cries:
"What are you doing there?" Lad replies:

CHORUS
"I'm tying the leaves so they won't come down,
So the wind won't blow them away,
For the best little girl in the whole wide world,
Is lying so ill today.

Her young life must go when the first leaves fall.
I'm fixing them tight so they'll stay.
I'm tying the leaves so they won't come down,
So Nellie won't go away."

Sad mother grieves, day by day,
Watching the leaves, hears boy say:
"You mustn't cry, for, you see,
I've tied all the leaves fast up on the tree."

Doctor brings joy one sad day.
Mother tells boy: "Nell will stay."
Lad at girl's side, cries with glee:
"That's what I said one day in the tree.

CHORUS

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: I'm Tying The Leaves So......
From: Bill D
Date: 06 Aug 98 - 07:08 PM

hmmm...I have heard the bluegrassy version of this done to death...didn't know there was an old version! A lot more to this one...

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: I'm Tying The Leaves So......
From: Mark Clark
Date: 06 Aug 98 - 09:53 PM

That's wonderful! You don't specify a melody but it strikes me that the melody for "The Lighting Express" would fit this pretty well. How oooollllld would you say the song is?

I have a recording of Sam & Kirk McGee (from sunny Tennessee) singing a similar theme. The chorus went:

The leaves mustn't fall, oh no they mustn't fall, I'm tying the leaves so they will stay, I've lost my mom and dad, now sister's all I have, Don't let the falling leaves take her away.

The verses were of a small boy trying to get a passing stranger to help tie the leaves back to the trees because the doctor had told him his sister would die "when the autumn leaves have turned and start to fall." I have never researched the song but assumed it came from the era when dying children songs were popular; tunes like "Little Joe," "Put My Little Shoes Away" and "There'll Be No Blind Ones There" come to mind.

Perhaps people will post some other "leaves" variants

- Mark

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: I'm Tying The Leaves So......
From: Gene
Date: 24 Oct 98 - 06:35 PM

Moon Mullican also recorded the song
that Mark refers to. ...
The Leaves Mustn't Fall
I have it on an old R-T-R [somewhere]...
and I have the other version also
I'm Tying The Leaves So ...
by Elton Britt and also by Grandpa Jones...
Will find them and compare lyrics

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: I'm Tying The Leaves So......
From: Art Thieme
Date: 27 Oct 98 - 11:45 AM

Wilf Carter (Montana Slim) recorded this for RCA. I had to drive from Chicago to Calgary to find his old LPs.

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: I'm Tying The Leaves So......
From: Dale Rose
Date: 25 Nov 98 - 11:55 PM

Here is my first contribution since finding the Duke University Sheet Music Site

I'm Tying The Leaves So They Won't Come Down was written in 1907, with words by E.S.S. Huntington, and music by J. Fred Helf. Mac and Bob must have had access to the sheet music or a close source, because their wording is nearly identical. The two biggest differences, and they are relatively slight are, "I'm fixing them fast so they'll stay" rather than tight, and "Doctor brings joy one glad day" instead of sad. That one makes more sense anyway.

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: I'm Tying The Leaves So......
From: BSeed
Date: 26 Nov 98 - 12:21 AM

Which came first, the song or the O Henry story ("The Last Leaf")? --seed

Subject: Lyr Add: THE LEAVES MUSTN'T FALL (Moon Mullican)
From: Gene
Date: 23 Oct 99 - 01:58 PM

THE LEAVES MUSTN'T FALL
Words and music by Dorothy Sebastian and Jack Kenney
As recorded by Moon Mullican, 1950.

1. The autumn leaves were falling and the snow was soon to come
As I was walkin' down a lonesome road
I saw a little fellow; he was sittin' all alone
A-catchin' leaves as they came tumblin' down.

CHORUS: The leaves mustn't fall, oh, no, they mustn't fall.
I'm tyin' the leaves so they will stay.
I've lost my mom and dad; now sister's all I have.
Don't let the fallin' leaves take her away.

2. My little sister's seven and she's sure a pretty thing,
As pretty as a picture on the wall.
The doctor came this summer and he said that she would die
When autumn leaves have turned and start to fall. CHORUS

3. So, won't you help me, mister? Won't you help me tie the leaves?
We'll tie them to the branches good and strong,
And if we tie them tightly, We can keep my sister here
And show that doctor man that he is wrong. CHORUS

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: I'm Tying The Leaves So......
From: Fred
Date: 24 Oct 99 - 10:46 AM

I believe this song became popular from a rendition by that grand old ballad singer, Bradley Kincaid (anyone remember him?) A version with the lyrics posted above can be found on a Grandpa Jones album still found in cut-out bins. Those wanting the melody can find it there, although Grandpa uncharacteristically struggles with the tune and its odd chord changes.

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: I'm Tying The Leaves So......
From: Gene
Date: 24 Oct 99 - 05:51 PM

See 'FALLEN LEAVES' in - * Digital Tradition Database *
Also Falling Leaf

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: I'm Tying The Leaves So......
From: Stewie
Date: 24 Oct 99 - 06:28 PM

It was reissued on 'Mac and Bob: Lester McFarland and Robert Gardner' Birch Records 60091. Both artists were blind and met at the Kentucky School for the Blind in 1915. Their theme song was 'Tis Sweet to Be Remembered'. And they deserve to be so.

Cheers, Stewie.

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: I'm Tying The Leaves So......
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Mar 02 - 11:35 PM

Just heard this on www.hober.com radio the other day. I didn't catch who was doing it, but it sounded like an old recording. Beautiful song. Thanks for having the words posted. Now I can learn it! I have it on tape and could email it to anyone who might need the tune.

kat

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: I'm Tying The Leaves So......
From: masato sakurai
Date: 10 Mar 02 - 11:53 AM

The direct link to the sheet music at Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920 (from Duke University).

I'm tying the leaves so they won't come down(1907)

~Masato

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: I'm Tying The Leaves So......
From: Felipa
Date: 08 Feb 03 - 04:41 AM

there's more info on the O Henry story mentioned by Seed at the "trying to find an old Irish tune" thread; see clickable link at top of this page

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: I'm Tying The Leaves So......
From: Peace
Date: 23 Jul 07 - 03:47 PM

Link from the link from the link from the suggestion from the thread from the . . . . Here--I hope.

Subject: Lyr Add: I'M TYING THE LEAVES SO THEY WON'T COME..
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 24 Jul 07 - 10:29 PM

I checked the sheet music (See Masato's link). Only a few words are different from the ones posted by Ralph Butts above, but they are significant. I have put them in boldface:

I'M TYING THE LEAVES SO THEY WON'T COME DOWN
Words, E. S. S. Huntington. Music, J. Fred Helf.
New York: Helf & Hager, 1907.

1. Playmates were they, girl and lad.
She's home today. lad feels sad.
Doctor who calls, whispers low,
"When the last autumn leaves fall, then she must go."
Lad with a tear climbs a tree.
"I'll keep her here," murmurs he.
Big man in blue sternly cries,
"What are you doing there?" Lad replies:

CHORUS: "I'm tying the leaves so they won't come down, so the wind won't blow them away,
For the best little girl in the wide, wide world is lying so ill today.
Her young life must go when the last leaves fall. I'm fixing them fast so they'll stay.
I'm tying the leaves so they won't come down, so Nellie won't go away."

2. Sad mother grieves, day by day,
Watching the leaves, hears boy say:
"You mustn't cry, for, you see,
I have tied all the leaves fast up on the tree."
Doctor brings joy one glad day.
Mother tells boy, "Nell will stay."
Lad at girl's side, cries with glee:
"That's what I said one day in the tree. CHORUS

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'm Tying the Leaves So They Won't Come..
From: GUEST,irican
Date: 19 Aug 07 - 07:03 AM

where can I get the music? My grandpop used to sing this and we all thought of it when he died of cancer, I called it the "felling of an oak" as he was a big man , reduced by the ravages of the disease. I so wanted to hear the music to this as it would make him seem "here: again. Thanks for the link.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'm Tying the Leaves So They Won't Come..
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 19 Aug 07 - 09:26 AM

irican - if you use the link posted by Masato, a few posts above (10 Mar 02), it will take you to the sheet music. The link takes you to the cover page; you can use the numbers at the top of the screen there to go from page to page (1=cover).

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'm Tying the Leaves So They Won't Come..
From: Bill D
Date: 19 Aug 07 - 10:52 AM

you can hear a 1907 recording on this page, which may be close to what your grandfather heard.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'm Tying the Leaves So They Won't Come..
From: GUEST,zara
Date: 05 Jul 12 - 10:10 AM

where can i download this song

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'm Tying the Leaves So They Won't Come..
From: maeve
Date: 05 Jul 12 - 10:16 AM

Guest zara- You'll find a download link in Bill D's 19 Aug 07 10:52 AM post just before yours.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'm Tying the Leaves So They Won't Come..
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Jul 12 - 10:22 AM

thanks for the reply but i want the mac & bob version

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'm Tying the Leaves So They Won't Come..
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Oct 13 - 12:30 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBJIbOrUqjI&feature=share
I just found this on youtube. I thought it might help you. My mom used to sing the chorus to us with a story she'd tell about the little boy trying to prevent his sister's death. But in her story, they both ended up happy in heaven together. I'm sorry about the loss of your grandfather. Perhaps he and my sweet mother are comparing notes now in heaven. :)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'm Tying the Leaves So They Won't Come..
From: Ron Davies
Date: 10 Oct 13 - 12:37 PM

Charlie Moore does an absolutely wonderful version of "The Leaves Mustn't Fall".   I have it--somewhere-- on tape.   If I could only learn how to get the tapes onto CD, this would help considerably. I've even bought the gadget needed but still can't figure it out.