Lyr Add: The Baby Tree (Rosalie Sorrels)

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BABY TREE (Rosalie Sorrels)
From: Mountain Dog
Date: 14 Aug 97 - 09:07 AM

The post requesting lyrics to "Today's the day they're giving babies away" reminded me of this one.

THE BABY TREE

1. There's an island way out in the sea
Where the babies, they all grow on trees
And it's jolly good fun
To swing in the sun
But you've gotta watch out if you sneeze, sneeze
You've gotta watch out if you sneeze.

2. Yes, you've gotta watch out if you sneeze
For swingin up there in the breeze,
You're liable to cough,
You might very well fall off
And tumble down, plop, on your knees, knees
Tumble down, plop, on your knees.

3. And when the stormy winds wail
And the breezes blow high in a gale
There's a curious plopping and dropping and flopping
And fat little babies just hail, hail
Fat little babies just hail.

4. Well, the babies they lie in a pile
And the grown-ups they come after 'while
And they always pass by all the babies that cry
And they take only babies that smile, smile
They take only babies that smile.
Even triplets and twins if they'll smile.


It has a very singable, sea-chantyish melody that lends itself to a rolling baritone like mine and has proved a great favorite with nieces, nephews and other youngsters for whom I've sung it.

Not sure about its origins. I first heard it on the "Sunfighter" album, a Grace Slick/Paul Kantner collaboration done to celebrate the birth of their daughter (originally named 'god', later changed to 'China'). I don't know if they wrote it or cribbed from somewhere else.

In any case, a fun tune to sing and sing along with.

Subject: RE: The Baby Tree
From: Bert Hansell
Date: 14 Aug 97 - 09:29 AM

What a lovely song. Any chance of a melody line?

Bert.

Subject: RE: The Baby Tree
From: Mountain Dog
Date: 14 Aug 97 - 09:50 AM

Dear Bert,

I'd be happy to make you a tape of my rendition, if you'd like. (Unfortunately, I neither read nor write in standard musical notation, being more of an "ear" man. My brother is the classically trained "musicianer" in the family.)

Send me your mailing address at [e-mail] and the tape will be on its way.

Subject: RE: The Baby Tree
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 14 Aug 97 - 12:20 PM

Mountain Dog- If you'd send me a tape, I'll transcribe it into the database.

dick greenhaus 28 Powell St. Greenwich CT,06831

Subject: RE: The Baby Tree
From: Mountain Dog
Date: 14 Aug 97 - 01:25 PM

Dear Dick,

I'm honored! I'll get a tape off to you in the next week or so. (Gee, who'd have thought I could become a MIDI without going to Annapolis?!?)

Subject: RE: The Baby Tree
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 14 Aug 97 - 02:41 PM

Hell, if you tried hard enough you could even be a WAV

Subject: RE: The Baby Tree
From: Mountain Dog
Date: 14 Aug 97 - 04:52 PM

Dear Dick,

'Spose that would require casting me anchors away, though, eh matey? Ouch!

Subject: Add: The Baby Tree (Rosalie Sorrels)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Jul 16 - 11:23 PM

This is a post from Jean Ritchie, and I want to make sure it doesn't get lost.

Thread #50412   Message #765538
Posted By: kytrad
14-Aug-02 - 08:41 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: today's the day we give babies away
Subject: Lyr Add: THE BABY TREE (Rosalie Sorrells)

Rosalie Sorrells wrote the song, "THE BABY TREE," and our company, Geordie Music Publishing Co., published it for her in 1970. A few years later, she formed her own publishing company and we assigned her songs to her (I believe her company is Grimes Music). I don't think she'd mind my setting down the words here- it's a charming song!

There's an island way out in the sea
Where the babies they all grow on trees,
And it's jolly good fun to swing in the sun
But you gotta watch out if you sneeze, sneeze,
You gotta watch out if you sneeze.

Yes you gotta watch out if you sneeze,
For swingin' up there in the trees
You're liable to cough-you might very well fall off
And tumble down flop on your knees, knees,
Tumble down flop on your knees.

(Occasional chorus-different tune)
O this is the day they give babies away
With a half a cup of tea-
If you know any ladies who want any babies
Just send 'em around to me...

Then when the stormy winds wail
And the breezes blow high in a gale,
There's a curious dropping and flopping and plopping
And fat little babies just hail, hail,
Fat little babies just hail!

And the babies lie there in a pile
And the grown-ups come after awhile,
And they always pass by all the babies that cry
And take only babies that smile, smile,
They take only babies that smile.
Even triplets and twins if they'll smile!
(Words & music by Rosale Sorrells Grimes Music)

I guess you'll have to find the tune on one of Rosalie's albums- it was on one of her early ones. Hope this clears up some wonder-ings for you! Jean

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Baby Tree (Rosalie Sorrels)
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 28 Jul 16 - 09:42 PM

Paul Kantner recording of this song at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UALb0NLZM3M

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Baby Tree (Rosalie Sorrels)
From: leeneia
Date: 28 Jul 16 - 11:40 PM

Thanks, Gerry.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Baby Tree (Rosalie Sorrels)
From: Janie
Date: 29 Jul 16 - 12:31 AM

There is a tribute album to Rosalie that will be released this fall. Wonder if this lovely song will be on it?

Subject: RE: Origins: 'The Baby Tree' by Rosalie Sorrels
From: GUEST,#
Date: 27 Apr 21 - 12:19 PM

The following thread discusses the song. That may be of some help to you.

mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=50412

thread.cfm?threadid=50412