Lyr Add: Falling Leaf / Fallen Leaves

Subject: ADD: Falling Leaf
From: Coralena
Date: 02 Apr 97 - 03:29 PM

///Falling Leaf///

Far beyond the rolling prairie where the noble forest rise,
dwells the sweetest little maiden ever seen by mortal eyes.
She was something like the sunlight, daughter of an Indian Chief,
Came to bless their home in Autumn and they called her Falling Leaf.

From the deep and tangled forest, all alone one summer day,
Came a hunter worn and weary and into their hut did stray.
Weeks went by but still he lingered Gentle Falling Leaf beside,
Till with smiles of love she promised soon to be his woodland bride.

One bright day this hunter wandered o'er the prairies waste alone,
Long Leaf she waited for his coming but his fate was never known.
Like the summer leaf she faded, like the autumn leaf she died,
And they closed her eyes in slumber near the gentle river side.

Falling Leaf, the breezes whispers of thy spirits early flight,
Canst thou hear it softly lisping o'er her grave each winter night?
Far beyond the stars in heaven, dwells a maiden of holy light,
While from out the lonely wigwam comes a wail of woe each night.

//////////////////////////////////////////

This is the song my Grandmama sang. I didn't get to copy the one you listed, if you wouldn't mind listing it again I'ld appericate it. Also, I have been told there is another Falling Leaf song, anyone know of one? Thank you.

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Click for related thread

Subject: RE: Falling Leaf
From:
Date: 25 Apr 97 - 11:49 AM

My mom sang this to me to me also as a child. But she sang it as "Falling Leaves," not leaf.

Subject: ADD Fallen Leaves ^^^
From: Gene Graham
Date: 26 Apr 97 - 01:07 AM

Liked to never found this post....so I brought it up to here!


Fallen Leaves
(Jimmie Skinner)
All alone in a wigwam, In 1863,
There lived a fair Indian Maiden, They Called Her Fallen Leaves.
Pretty as the stars up above you, Fair as the moon in the trees,
Because she was born in October, They Called Her Fallen Leaves.
There came a trooper one morning, Just at the break of day,
He stopped to rest at the wigwam, Of the shy little Indian maid.
Fallen Leaves the breezes whisper, Fallen Leaves the breezes sigh,
When he rode on that evening, Fallen Leaves rode by his side.

One night while she lay sleeping The moon was shining bright,
He Stole away from the campfire, Then rode into the night.
Fallen Leaves the breezes whisper, Fallen Leaves the breezes sigh,
Out in the lonesome old forest, Fallen Leaves she lingered and died.

.......Gene

Subject: RE: Falling Leaf
From: Coralena
Date: 28 Apr 97 - 07:24 AM

Thank you Gene.

Subject: lyr Add: FALLEN LEAF
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 10:39 PM

Here is a url with another version - wish I could find a good recording of the song.

http://www.lyon.edu/wolfcollection/songs/dawnfallen1231.html

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FALLEN LEAF
(FALLING LEAF)
Sung by: Mrs. Maggie Dawn
Recorded in Pleasant Grove, AR, 7/15/52

Far beyond the rolling prairie,
Where a lonely forest lies,
Dwelt the fairest Indian maiden
Ever seen by mortal eyes.
She whose eyes were like the sunbeams-
Daughter of a warrior chief-
Came to cheer their home in autumn,
And they called her Fallen Leaf.

Chorus: Fallen Leaf, the breezes whisper
Of her spirit's early flight,
For within that lowly wigwam
There's a wail of woe tonight.

In the depths of that lone forest,
On a sultry summer day,
Came a hunter worn and weary,
Lone and silent on his way.
Weeks rolled by and yet he lingered;
"Gentle Fallen Leaf!" he cried;
'Til with a cry of love she promised
Soon to be his happy bride.

(Chorus)

One bright summer day he wandered
O'er the prairie vast, alone;
Long she watched and long she waited,
But his fate was never known.
With the summer leaves she faded,
With the autumn leaves she died,
And she closed her eyes and slumbers
By the lonely riverside.

(Chorus)

---

Lyrics copy-pasted from the link cited above.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Lyr Add: FALLING LEAF (Curtis, Farnham)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 08 Feb 05 - 11:59 PM

It's in the DT: FALLEN LEAVES (Jimmie Skinner) – probably copied from Gene Graham's post above.

Lyrics below from The Library of Congress American Memory Collection

FALLING LEAF
Words, Annie M. Curtis. Music, A. C. Farnham. 1871.

1. Far beyond the rolling prairie, where the noble forests rise,
Liv'd the sweetest little maiden ever seen by mortal eyes.
She whose smile was like the sunlight, daughter of a warrior chief,
Came to glad their home in autumn and they call'd her Falling Leaf.

CHORUS: Falling Leaf, the breezes whisper of thy spirit's early bright,
And within the lowly wigwam, there's a wail of woe tonight.

2. From the depths of tangled forests, all alone one summer day,
Came a hunter worn and weary with the long and lonely way.
Weeks went by and still he linger'd, gentle Falling Leaf beside,
And with smiles of love, she promised soon to be his woodland bride.

3. One bright morn the hunter wander'd o'er the prairie waste alone.
All in vain she watch'd and waited but his fate was never known.
With the summer days she faded. With the autumn blooms she died,
And they closed her eyes in slumber near the gleaming river's tide.

---

Click to play

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Falling Leaf / Fallen Leaves
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 03:41 AM

Here's the entry from the Traditional Ballad Index:

Falling Leaf

DESCRIPTION: Falling Leaf (so named because she was born in autumn) is the beautiful daughter of a chief. One day she meets a "worn and weary" hunter, and falls in love with him. But he vanishes; "his fate was never known" and she spends her life alone and mourning
AUTHOR: F. A. M. Stuart and W. Eben Miles
EARLIEST DATE: 1907 (copyright)
KEYWORDS: love courting Indians(Am.) separation grief mourning
FOUND IN: US(So)
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Randolph 765, "Falling Leaf" (3 texts, 3 tunes; Cohen considers the "C" text separate)
Randolph/Cohen, pp. 516-518, "" (1 text, 1 tune -- Randolph's 765A)
Roud #7409
RECORDINGS:
Paul Hamblin, "Fallen Leaf" (Victor V-40280, 1930)
L. K. Reeder, "Falling Leaf" (OKeh 45026, 1926; on MakeMe)
File: R765

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Go to the Ballad Search form
Go to the Ballad Index Instructions

The Ballad Index Copyright 2004 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Falling Leaf / Fallen Leaves
From: GUEST,Jim Dixon
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 09:56 AM

I just realized "of thy spirit's early bright" doesn't make sense, but that's exactly what the sheet music says (I just checked). "Early flight" makes more sense.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Falling Leaf / Fallen Leaves
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 06:37 PM

Dale tells me there's a recording in the Max Hunter Collection sung by Kay Orhlin, Mountain View, Arkansas on October 7, 1969. Kay was Glenn Ohrlin's wife at one time. She was 19 at the time of that recording, which mean's she not quite as old as I am.

You'll notice that there is a lot of variety in these versions. I wonder if the Annie Curtis version Jim posted is the original, or how far back the song goes.

Here are the lyrics from the Max Hunter Collection:

Falling Leaf
Cat. #1018 (MFH #190) - As sung by Kay Orhlin, Mountain View, Arkansas on October 7, 1969

VERSE 1
Far beyond th rolling prairie
Where th noble forest rise
Dwelled th fairest Indian maiden
Ever seen by mortal eyes
She whose brow it was th fairest
Daughter of a woodland Chief
Came to gladden our home in autumn
An' they called 'er Fallin' Leaf

VERSE 2
Thru th depths of tangle forest
All alone one winters day
Came a hunter worn an' weary
Whom into her home did stray
Weeks did pass an' still he lingered
Gentle Fallin' Leaf beside
Till in words of love she promised
Soon to be his woodland bride

VERSE 3
Then one day this hunter wandered
Across th prairie waste alone
Long she watched an' waited longing
But his fate was never known
With th summer breeze she faded
With the autumn leaves she died
And they buried her in silence
By th weeping willow side

VERSE 4
Fallin' Leaf, th breezes whisper
O'er her lonely grave each night
Tell me that thou still remembers
Of th spirits early flight
Far beyond th stars in Heaven
Dwells an angel fair and bright
An' within this lonely wigwam
There's a wail of woe tonight

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Falling Leaf / Fallen Leaves
From: GUEST,Mary Crawford
Date: 26 Dec 06 - 02:43 PM

As told by Mary A. Crawford to her son Bill 12/ 26, 2006:

"I'm past 82 years old and I learned this song when I was just past 11 years old. My cousin Cleo Grose taught it to me. She was the daughter of Ruth Johnson Grose Pierson. Her father was Andrew Johnson. My Grandmother, Minerva Johnson, was Andrew's sister. She married Thomas Camden Drennen – my Grandfather. My father was Thomas Jackson Drennen. My mother's maiden Name was Elizabeth Alice Underwood. My name is Mary Agnes Drennen Crawford."

Falling Leaves

Far out on the lonely prairie,
Where the noble forests rise,
Lived the sweetest little maiden
Ever seen by mortal eyes.

She whose smiles were like the sunbeams
Daughter of an honored chief,
Came to gladden their home in Autumn,
And they called her Falling Leaves.

From the depths of tangled forest,
He alone one summer day,
Came a hunter worn and weary,
Who into their camp did stray.

Weeks passed by and still he lingered
Falling Leaves there by his side,
Told with smiles of love and promised
That she'd be his woodland bride.

One bright day this hunter wandered
O'er the prairie all alone,
All in vain she watched and waited,
But his fate was never known.

Like the summer flowers she faded,
Like the Autumn leaves she died,
They closed her eyes in deathly slumber
By the dreaming river tide.

(Chorus)
Far above the stars in heaven
Lives a maid in pure delight
And out from that lonely wigwam
There's a wail of woe each night.

(We really appreciate your website and the various postings).

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Falling Leaf / Fallen Leaves
From: GUEST,JoLynn Self
Date: 06 Dec 07 - 11:25 AM

Spring of March or April 1969 Ollie Self taught Charlie Jones an Indian story teller this song Fallen Leaf.   He did not sing the whole song. I have just the recording of him singing it so this is what he sung.   
William Ollie Self was born Dec 25 1899 in Long Creek-Indian Territory which is now Choctaw County, Oklahoma.
He was 1/8 Choctaw Indian.

Falling Leaf

Far across the rolling prairie where the dwells and noble flight,
Came to bless their home in Autumn and her name was Falling Leaf.
Falling Leaf, the breezes whispers spirits of an early flight,
Came to bless their home in autumn and her name was Falling Leafs.
One "oh shit"

He thought he messed up so he stopped singing.

Nice to have found the words to this song.   

Thanks,
JoLynn Self - Choctaw County Oklahoma

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Falling Leaf / Fallen Leaves
From: GUEST,louise boulton
Date: 16 Mar 14 - 09:44 PM

thanks so much Im in my 60s an our mother used to sing of Fallen Leaves,so happy to see the words tho all are just a little different,probably due to the fact they didn't always have radios or music so they probably sang from memory thank you al thank you!!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Falling Leaf / Fallen Leaves
From: GUEST,Petra Johnson Dryden mahvash
Date: 12 Mar 18 - 03:03 PM

So happy to find this thread.
My mother sang this to me and her mother to her. I sang it to my children and now my grandchildren. I’m sad I didn’t find this thread sooner it is now 2018 I would have like to have reached out to Mary a Crawford as I am sure she is related. She posted earlier in 2006

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Falling Leaf / Fallen Leaves
From: Shenkin
Date: 05 Feb 21 - 09:19 PM

There is a good recording of the song "Falling Leaf", by Annie M. Curtis and A. C. Farnham (1871). This is the tune that begins "Far beyond the rolling Prairie".

The recording by Curly Fox and Texas Ruby was recorded in 1947 and released by King Records. It is available on YouTube


The song by F. A. M. Stuart and W. Eban Miles (1908) is a completely different song, which begins "They stood on the sunkissed hillside"

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Falling Leaf / Fallen Leaves
From: GUEST,Laura Craft
Date: 15 Feb 24 - 07:11 PM

my mother sang the song entirely differently. I learned it when in 1950 shortly after World War II ended and we were living in Germany. This was my mother‘s version. She was black foot snd Sioux.

Far beyond the rolling prairie
where the noble Forest rise
Lived The fairest Indian maiden
ever seen by mortal eyes
Falling leaves the breezes murmured,
daughter of an Indian chief
Came to gladden our homes in Autumn
and we called her falling leaves
.
Falling leaves , the breezes murmured,
, falling leaves the river sighed
She was the fairest little maiden
ever seen by mortal eyes

Then out of the tangled forrest
All alone one summer day
Came a warrior worn and wounded
And into her hut did stray
Weeks passed by and still he lingered
Gentle falling Leaves beside
and with smiles of love, she promised
Soon to be the warriors bride
chorus
One bright day, the warrior wandered
over the prairie face alone
All in vain, she watched and waited
But his fate was never known
Like the springtime flowers, she faded
Like the autumn leaves, she died
And we closed her eyes in sadness
By the weeping River side
chorus
But above us in the heavens
Shines a maidens holy light
And from out of her lonely wigwam
Comes a woe on war each night