Lyr Add: The River in the Pines

Subject: River In The Pines I seek for
From: Jarold
Date: 16 Nov 00 - 09:14 PM

I seek for it a long time without any success.

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I moved this message here from another thread on the same topic.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Lyr Add: THE RIVER IN THE PINES (Joan Baez)
From: MMario
Date: 16 Nov 00 - 09:26 PM

THE RIVER IN THE PINES
(Joan Baez)

Oh, Mary was a maiden
When the birds
began to sing
She was sweeter than
the blooming rose
So early in the spring
Her thoughts were
gay and happy
And the morning gay and fine
For her lover
was a river boy
From the river in the pines
Now Charlie
he got married
To his marry
n the spring
When the trees were
budding early
And the birds began to sing
But early in the autumn
when the fruit is
in the wine
I'll return to you my darling
from the river in the pines
It was early
in the morning
In Wisconsin
dready clime
When he ruled
the fatal rocket
For that last and
fuedal time

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I moved this message here from another thread on the same topic.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: DTADD: THE RIVER IN THE PINES (from Joan Baez)
From: Mad Maudlin
Date: 14 Apr 01 - 01:25 PM

THE RIVER IN THE PINES (trad.)

Oh, Mary was a maiden
When the birds began to sing,
She was sweeter than the blooming rose
So early in the spring.
Her thoughts were gay and happy
And the morning gay and fine
For her lover was a river-boy
From the river in the pines.

Now, Charlie he got married
To his Mary in the spring
When the trees were budding early
And the birds began to sing.
"But early in the autumn
When the fruit is on the vine
I'll return to you, my darling,
From the river in the pines."

'Twas early in the morning
In Wisconsin's dreary clime
When he rode the fatal rapids
For the last and fatal time.
They found his body lying
On the rocky shore below
Where the silent water ripples
And the whispering cedars blow.

Now every raft of lumber
That comes down the Chippeway
There's a lonely grave
That's visited by drivers on their way.
They plant wild flowers upon it
In the morning fair and fine:
'Tis the grave of two young lovers
From the river in the pines.

I think it was sung by Joan Baez, but I'm typing it from memory. Enjoy! :-)

NG

I made a few very minor corrections so it is now exactly the way Joan Baez sang it. Hope you don't mind. --JoeClone, 2-Aug-02.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The River in the Pines
From:
Date: 14 Apr 01 - 03:48 PM

thanks...I was just trying to remember the words. it is a truly great song. mg

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The River in the Pines
From: Art Thieme
Date: 14 Apr 01 - 07:29 PM

I don't recall Baez ding this song-----but it was done very nicely by folklorist John Berquist from Eveleth, Minnesota in the Mesabi Ironb Range. John's voice sounds like the North woods. A fine fellow.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The River in the Pines
From: GUEST,ceiliwidow
Date: 14 Apr 01 - 09:03 PM

Joan Baez DID do this song. I believe the album was "Angelina" or anyway it contained a song called "Farewell Anglelina".

Subject: DTADD: The River in the Pines
From: Stewie
Date: 14 Apr 01 - 11:30 PM

Here's a longer version with a slightly different story. I can appreciate why it was somewhat truncated by Baez.

THE RIVER IN THE PINES

Oh Mary was a maiden when the birds began to sing
She was fairer than the blooming rose so early in the spring
Her thoughts were gay and happy, in the morning gay and fine
For her lover was a river-boy from the River in the Pines

Now Charlie got married to this Mary in the spring
When the trees were budding early and the birds began to sing
'Now darling I must leave you in the happiness of love
And make some Vs and Xs for you, my darling dove
And early in the autumn when the fruit is in the wine
I'll return to you, my darling, from the River in the Pines

'T was early in the morning in Wisconsin's dreary clime
When he rode the fatal rapids for that last and fatal time
They found his body lying on the rocky shores below
Where the silent water ripples and the whispering cedars blow

The woodsmen gathered round him on the bright and cloudless morn
And, with sad and tearful eyes, they viewed his cold and lifeless form
'I would send a message to her, but I fear she would repine',
Spoke a friend of Charlie Williams from the River in the Pines

When Mary heard these tidings from that river far away
In was in the early springtime, in the early month of May
At first, she seemed uncertain and no more her eyes did shine
But her saddened thoughts still wandered to that River in the Pines

Not long ago, I visited there, not many years ago
It was a southern city where strange faces come and go
I spied a grey-haired maiden, both very old and grey
And my thoughts turned back again once more to that river far away

She smiled, though, when she saw me, though she looked old and grey
'I am waiting for my Charlie boy', these words to me did say
And early in the autumn when the fruit is in the wine
I'll return to meet my Charlie from the River in the Pines

Now every raft of lumber that comes down the Chippewa
There's a lonely grave that's visited by drivers on their way
They plant wild flowers upon it in the morning fair and fine
'Tis the grave of Charlie Williams from the River in the Pines

Source: From Franz Rickaby (Coll and ed) 'Ballads and Songs of the Shanty-Boy' Cambridge Harvard University Press 1926. This is song #30 in Rickaby's collection, sent to him by Mr William Bartlett, Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

--Stewie.

Subject: DTADD: RIVER THROUGH THE PINE / BRANDYWINE
From: raredance
Date: 14 Apr 01 - 11:41 PM

Sorry for the duplication. While I was off line typing, Stewie entered the Rickaby text. Luckily I gave it a #2 and Stewie's was the 2nd entry in the thread so it remins #2. Besides I have a #3 and #4 floowing #2.

THE RIVER IN THE PINES (2)

Oh Mary was a maiden when the birds began to sing.
She was fairer than the blooming rose so early in the spring.
Her thoughts were gay and happy in the morning gay and fine,
For her lover was a river-boy from the River in the Pines.

Now Charlie got married to this Mary in the spring,
When the trees were budding early and the birds began to sing.
"Now darling I must leave you in the happiness of love,
And make some V's and X's for you, my darling dove.
And early in the autumn when the fruit is in the wine,
I'll return to you, my darling, from the River in the Pines.

'T was early in the morning in Wisconsin's dreary clime
When he rode the fatal rapids for that last and fatal time.
The found his body lying on the rocky shores below,
Where the silent water ripples and the whispering cedars blow.

The woodsmen gathered round him on the bright and cloudless morn,
And with sad and tearful eyes they viewed his cold and lifeless form.
"I would send a message to her, but I fear she would repine."
Spoke a friend of Charlie Williams from the River in the Pines.

When Mary heard these tidings from that river far away,
It was in the early springtime, in the early month of May.
At first she seemed uncertain and no more her eyes did shine,
But her saddened thoughts still wandered to that River in the Pines.

Not long ago I visited there, not many years ago;
It was a Southern city where strange faces come and go.
I spied a gray-haired maiden, both very old and gray,
And my thoughts turned back again once more to that river far away.

She smiled though when she saw me, though she looked old and gray.
"I am waiting for my Charlie boy," these words to me did say.
"And early in the autumn, when the fruit is in the wine,
I'll return to meet my Charlie from the River in the Pines."

Now every raft of lumber that comes down the Chippewa,
There's a lonely grave that's visited by drivers on their way.
They plant wild flowers upon it in the morning fair and fine;
'T is the grave of Charlie Williams from the River in the Pines.

THE RIVER THROUGH THE PINE (3)
(sung by Bob McMahon, Peterborough, Ontario, 1959)

Oh Mary was as fair a girl as the flowers that bloom in spring-
She was fairer than the roses that bloom all in the early spring.
Her heart was full of happiness on this mornin' fair and fine;
Her lover was a driver on the river through the pine.

Now Charlie held a peavey with the driver's hand and skill;
He swung an axe with vengeance in that northern country still.
He labored all the summer, all the winter in the pine,
And they called him Charlie Williams from the town of Brandywine.

But Charlie and his Mary they got married in the spring
When the trees were buddin' early and the birds began to sing.
Now Mary's heart grew happy and her eyes with love did shine
For her young and handsome husband from the town of Brandywine.

"It's now I must leave you, dear, with the sense of awful love,
To go and make some money for my fond and turtle dove.
I'll drive the lonesome river all the summer fair and fine,
Return and see you, Mary, when the fruit is on the vine."

As early one morning in Wisconsin's early clime,
he ran the northern rapids on the river through the pine.
He had no time to tarry: soon the blow of awful death,
Those ragged rocks and waterfalls, deprived him of his breath.

The found his body floatin' on this mornin' fair and fine -
Charlie Williams he had perished on the river through the pine.
"I'll write a letter to her though I know she soon will pine,"
Said a friend of Charlie Williams on the river through the pine.

Now when she received this letter her eyes no more did shine.
...............
...............
..............

Every raft of timber that goes down the Chippewa,
His grave it is visited by drivers on their way.
On his grave we planted flowers and trimmed the wayward vine,
On the grave of Charlie Williams on the river through the pine.

THE RIVER IN THE PINE (THE TOWN OF BRANDYWINE) (4)
(sung BY Dominic Foran, Quyon, Quebec, 1966)

Young Mary was a maiden when the birds began to sing;
She was fairer than a blooming rose so early in the spring.
Her heart was gay and merry on that morning fair and fine
For her lover was a driver from the town of Brandywine.

Young Charlie used the peavey with the driver's hand and skill,
And he swung and axe with energy in the northern forest still.
He would labor all the winter and the summer in the pine,
And they called him Charlie Williams from the town of Brandywine.

Young Mary she got married to her lover in the spring
When the buds began to blossom and the birds began to sing.
"Now darling, I must leave you in the happiness of love.
I must make some V's and X's for you, my blooming dove.
I will labor all the winter and in summer in the pine;
I'll return to you, my darling, when the fruit is on the vine."

Young Mary she was faded and no more was gazed upon,
For the happiness of her maiden dreams his wild career had run,
And early one morning on Wisconsin's dreary clime
He had run those noisy rapids for his last sad fatal time.

They found his body lying on the rocky shores below
Where the noisy waters ripple and the silent cedars grow.
"I would send to her a letter, but I'm afraid she'd repine."
Said a friend of Charlie Williams from the town of Brandywine.

Now every raft of timber that goes down the Chippewa
His lonesome grave is visited by drivers on their way.
They will plant wild flowers o'er his grave and pluck the weaving vines
O'er the grave of Charlie Williams from the town of Brandywine.

In a distant city I visited not many months ago-
It was in a southern climate where strange faces come and go -
I saw a gray-haired damsel, and no more her eyes did shine:
She's the widow of young Williams from the town of Brandywine.

She smiled as she saw me although she looked old and gray.
"I'm prepared to meet my river-boy," those words to me did say,
"And it's early in the autumn when the fruit is on the vine
I wll welcome back my river-boy from the town of Brandywine."

(2) From: Ballads and Songs of the Shantey-Boy by Franz Rickaby (1926 Harvard University Press) collected from William Bartlett of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The Chippewa River arises in far northern Wisconsin and flows southwest through Eau Claire and empties into the Mississippi near Pepin, Wisconsin.

(3 & 4) from: Lumbering Songs from the Northern Woods by Edith Fowke (1970 American Folklore Society)

The Rickaby text is clearly the oldest. He adds nothing about its origin except that it was given to him. The two Canadian texts (3 & 4) have the added second verse describing Charlie's prowess as a driver and a lumberjack. They both also use "the town of Brandywine" in place of "the river in the pines". Versions 2 and 4 have a similar awkward 6 line stanza, the subject of which is expanded into two 4 line stanzas in #3. #3, however does not include the verses about meeting up with the widow Mary in later years that are part of #2 and #4. Note how "where the silent water ripples" in #2 has become "where the noisy waters ripple" in #4. #3 has the "death/breath" couplet not found in the others. The "brandywine" addition is puzzling. I could not find any Brandywines in Canada. In the USA they are mostly out east, OH MD DE, WV, VA, PA,and LA. None of them anywhere near Wisconsin

Some Recordings:
Frank Uchytil recorded by Alan Lomax for the Library of Congress
John Berquist on "Fire In the Jackpine" (Berquist sings a version that matches the verse content of #3 with a few word variations)
Joan Baez on "Farewell Angelina " (Vanguard VSD-79200) (Baez sings the shorter version at the beginning of this thread).
Fowke indicates that a recording of the McMahon version exists in the National Museum of Canada, but does not say anything of the Foran version.

rich r

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The River in the Pines
From: raredance
Date: 14 Apr 01 - 11:43 PM

I really need a spell checker

remins = remains

floowing = following

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The River in the Pines
From: Mad Maudlin
Date: 15 Apr 01 - 05:02 AM

Whoa! Who would have thought there were so many versions! That's really interesting. But I agree with Stewie: the short version is better. Hmmm, I must get all those recordings you mentioned...

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The River in the Pines
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 15 Apr 01 - 10:02 AM

Part of the shortened text recorded by Baez was posted by MMario last year:  River In The Pines

Any chance of midis or abcs for some of these?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The River in the Pines
From: raredance
Date: 15 Apr 01 - 01:21 PM

Rickaby prints o tune for (2) and Fowke has different tunes for (3) and (4). The Rickaby tune is the most lilting I guess. It is in 6/8 time with a lot of alternating quarter and eighth notes. Best of my recollection without digging out the album, it most resembles the Baez version. The Foran tune (4) is quite similar except it is in 2/2 (or 4/4) time with a couple of 3/2 measures and therefore doesn't bounce quite as much. The McMahon tune (3) is different and bears a strong resemblance to some of the "Peter Emberley" (Amberley, Emery etc.) tunes. The Berquist tune is also different.

rich r

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The River in the Pines
From: GUEST,Bard Judith
Date: 17 Sep 05 - 04:28 PM

You were asking for a midi...

This comes from a discussion our fantasy-world-building group was having. It's based on an 'aural' version of "River in the Pines" and only the first half is 'accurate' to the Baez version. The second half is an improvisation on the tune - but y'all might still enjoy it!

If you go up to the URL and change the '4' to a '3' you'll get a simpler version, by the way...

http://stuwww.uvt.nl/~s528998/midigifts/lansquenetslamentv4.MID

http://stuwww.uvt.nl/~s528998/midigifts/lansquenetslamentv3.MID

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The River in the Pines
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Sep 05 - 02:38 AM

I don't like the line about "Wisconsin's dreary clime," but I've heard people speak ill of my home state all my life. Oh, well.
The Traditional Ballad Index entry calls the song "The River Through the Pines":

River through the Pines, The

DESCRIPTION: "O Mary was a maiden when the birds began to sing, She was sweeter than the blooming rose so early in the spring...." She loves (Charlie), a shanty boy; the two are married. But he dies at his work; they are buried together
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1926 (Rickaby)
KEYWORDS: love courting marriage separation work logger death burial
FOUND IN: US(MW) Canada(Ont,Que)
REFERENCES (3 citations):
Rickaby 30, "The River in the Pines" (1 text, 1 tune)
Lomax-FSNA 56, "The River in the Pines" (1 text, 1 tune)
Fowke-Lumbering #37, "The River through the Pine" (2 texts, 2 tunes)
ST LoF056 (Partial)
Roud #669
ALTERNATE TITLES:
The Town of Brandywine
Notes: As "The River in the Pines," this song is item dC33 in Laws's Appendix II. - RBW
File: LoF056

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The Ballad Index Copyright 2006 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.

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Note: the Lomax version is taken from Rickaby, but Lomax has only the four verses used in the Baez recording.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The River in the Pines
From: Haruo
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 02:58 PM

Joe, why did you bother moving the first post into this thread? It's riddled with typos (not sure if these were MMario's doing or not) and is also incomplete. And the lines are broken in half.

When he ruled
the fatal rocket
For that last and
fuedal time

I mean seriously! Mad Maudlin's posting is much more accurate and much more complete and much closer to what Joan Baez actually sang on the record.

Haruo

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The River in the Pines
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Jun 06 - 01:15 AM

Hi, Haruo -
When MMario's (admittedly inadequate) transcription was off by itself, there was no corrected version to compare it with, and the incorrect version could be misleading - it's also very misleading to people who harvest songs for the Digital Tradition. In most cases, it seems best to group all information on a song together in one thread, so people can see for themselves.
But while we're at it, here's a MIDI of the Rickaby tune.
-Joe Offer-

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Click to play

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The River in the Pines
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 17 Feb 09 - 03:35 AM

Does anyone know the chords to the Joan Baez version of this song? it would be great tom actualy play it.