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

Subject: Lyr Req: Anyone know this old Irish tune?
From: GUEST,Miss Ellie
Date: 06 Feb 03 - 11:02 PM

My mother knew an Irish song from her youth. It was about a man who was tying leaves to a tree. He had a child who was dying, the doctor had said the child would be dead before the autumn leaves fell from the tree, so the man was trying to prevent the leaves from falling, and thus prevent the child's death. Does anyone know the title and/or lyrics to this song? Thanks for your help.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Anyone know this old Irish tune?
From: Jimmy C
Date: 06 Feb 03 - 11:59 PM

I never heard of a song for this story, but I believe "O'Henry" wrote the story or one very similar to it. There was a film made about 3 short stories by "O'Henry". One was about a girl with long hair who sold her hair to buy her husband a watch fob for Christmas, at the same time the husband sold the watch to buy her someting for her hair, I can't rememebr the 2nd story but the 3rd one was about someone in bed, very very ill who promised she would not die until the last leaf fell from the tree, Her husband glued a leaf on to a branch for her to see, this act kept her alive. I can't remember how it ends but I'm sure someone else will have seen this movie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Anyone know this old Irish tune?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 Feb 03 - 12:07 AM

Hi, Miss Ellie - I think the song you're looking for is in this thread (click).
If there's any further discussion, it's probably best to conduct it there.
-Joe offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Anyone know this old Irish tune?
From: GUEST,Miss Ellie
Date: 07 Feb 03 - 12:16 AM

Joe and Jimmy, thank you so much. My mother will be so happy. She was having a hard time convincing the rest of her family that the song was real. I appreciate it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Anyone know this old Irish tune?
From: GUEST,mikey52
Date: 07 Feb 03 - 12:37 AM

Tha story by O'henry was called The Last Leaf. Might be to long to post here. I can send a link if you can't find it. Great story btw.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Anyone know this old Irish tune?
From: clueless don
Date: 07 Feb 03 - 12:24 PM

and the movie was called "O'Henry's Full House". It was hosted/narrated by John Steinbeck. In addition to "The Last Leaf" and "The Gift of the Magi", there were three other O'Henry stories presented (each with a different director.) One of them, "The Cop and The Anthem" tells about a petty criminal who wants to get arrested so he can spend the winter in prison, rather than in the cold city. Everything he tries fails to get him arrested, until finally he has an epiphany and decides to get a job and turn away from crime. THEN he gets arrested. The two other stories (according to various movie websites) were "The Clarion Call" and "The Ransom of Redchief." I remember seeing this movie on TV many years ago, and I enjoyed it quite a bit.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Anyone know this old Irish tune?
From: Frankham
Date: 07 Feb 03 - 11:05 PM

I have another one that I've been trying to find.
It starts.....

"Open the door quietly, there's something to tell you dear.
Open the door no wider than the crack upon the wall.....
Open the door quietly, there's something to tell you dear...."

Anyone have any ideas?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Tying the Leaves So They Won't Come..
From: GUEST,Patrick Wall
Date: 18 Aug 17 - 06:12 AM

I'm from Ireland and have recorded a song called "The leaves mustn't fall" which is about what is described:

"My mother knew an Irish song from her youth. It was about a man who was tying leaves to a tree. He had a child who was dying, the doctor had said the child would be dead before the autumn leaves fell from the tree, so the man was trying to prevent the leaves from falling, and thus prevent the child's death. Does anyone know the title and/or lyrics to this song? Thanks for your help."

The song was originally done by blues singer Moon Mullican, who was American and of partly Irish descent.