Lyr Req: The Kentuckian Song (Irving Gordon)

Subject: I told the opossum in the gum tree...
From:
Date: 21 Dec 01 - 11:13 PM

Help! I'm looking for the name of a song for my mother. It goes like this... I told the possum in the gumtree, the raccoon on the ground, I told everyone but my darlin of the happiness I found. My heart would cry more than the weeping willow tree, if my darlin and his love were not for me.

If some one could email me I'd appreciate it. I am thinking the song is from the 40's or 50's. Thanks

Subject: RE: I told the opossum in the gum tree...
From: catspaw49
Date: 21 Dec 01 - 11:19 PM

Check HERE Name is "The Kentuckian"

Spaw

Subject: RE: I told the opossum in the gum tree...
From: Genie
Date: 22 Dec 01 - 05:09 AM

Yeah, Spaw, it's the theme song from the movie "The Kentuckian," which, I think, starred Fess Parker (of movie Davy Crockett and TV Daniel Boone fame). I tried to copy and paste the lyrics from your thread, but it wouldn't work. Thanks for the link.

G

Subject: RE: I told the opossum in the gum tree...
From: catspaw49
Date: 22 Dec 01 - 08:23 AM

Didja' know Fess Parker was a dove back in the 60's....came out against the Vietnam War and attended several protests? Being kids in the 50's, a lot of anti-war protesters thought it was pretty cool that Davy Crockett was against the war! I think I heard he has a winery in California now....Is that right? Seems like that was what I heard.

Spaw

Subject: RE: I told the opossum in the gum tree...
From: catspaw49
Date: 22 Dec 01 - 09:02 AM

Thought I'd go look and check that and it appears that ol Fess is doing even better than I suspected!!!

Davy Crockett goes Californian

Spaw

Subject: RE: I told the opossum in the gum tree...
From: Sorcha
Date: 22 Dec 01 - 09:31 AM

  The Kentuckian
  Music/lyrics-Irving Gordon, 1955
  (The Hilltoppers had a top 20 version)
  tabulated by James Ouzts, 
   (Harmonica tab)

    

-4 -8 8   -8  -7 -6  6  
   I see my darling in each 

    

 5  6   5  6   5 -4
  ray of summer sunrise.

    

-4 -8 8  -8  -7  6  -6 
    I see my darling in the 

    

 -7     6    -6
  leaves that fall.

    

-4 -8  8  -8 -7   -6  6
    I see her walking in the 

    

 5 6   5 6   5 -4
  rainy April sadness,

    

-4   6   -6   -7   8 
  And hear her name in 

    

-8-4  -7-4  -6    6
  ev-ry bluebird's call.

    

-4 -4  -4   -6 -6  -6  -6 -6  -6
  I told the 'possum in the gum tree,

    

-4  -7 -7  -7  -7   6
  The racoon on the ground.

    

 6    5  6  7 -8  8  -8 -7
  Told everyone but my darling

    

6  -6  -7 -6 -6 -7  -6
  Of the happiness I found.

    

-4  -8     8   -8  -7 
     My heart would cry more 

    

-6  6  5 6     5 6   5-4
  than a weeping willow tree

    

-4 -4  6  -6  -7   8   -8   -7  -7-4 -6  6 
   If my darling and her heart were not for me.

Copied from the site spaw linked to above.......

Subject: Lyr Add: THE KENTUCKIAN SONG (Irving Gordon)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 11 Dec 10 - 08:19 AM

According to ASCAP.com, the official title is THE KENTUCKIAN SONG.

For easier reading:


THE KENTUCKIAN SONG
Irving Gordon

I see my darlin' in each ray of summer sunlight.
I see my darlin' in the leaves that fall.
I see her walkin' in the rainy April sadness
And hear her name in ev'ry bluebird call.

I've told the possum in the gum tree, the raccoon on the ground,
Told ev'ryone but my darlin' of the happiness I've found.
My heart would cry more than the weeping willow tree,
If my darling and her heart were not for me.


YouTube has recordings by—
Brook Benton
Clint Walker
The Hilltoppers (poor sound quality)

Also recorded by the Eddy Arnold, Anita Carter, Anthony Perkins, and Mac Wiseman.]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Kentuckian Song (Irving Gordon)
From: DonMeixner
Date: 11 Dec 10 - 12:48 PM

I know of a film called The Kentuckian but it starred Burt Lancaster and introduced Walter Matthau. I wasn't aware of a film with the same title.

Don

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Kentuckian Song (Irving Gordon)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 11 Dec 10 - 07:27 PM

I think Genie was mistaken about Fess Parker being in "The Kentuckian."

Amazon.com is advertising used copies of the sheet music of THE KENTUCKIAN SONG (click to see the sheet-music cover). The cover confirms that THE KENTUCKIAN SONG was used in the film THE KENTUCKIAN starring Burt Lancaster, Dianne Foster, and Diana Lynn.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Kentuckian Song (Irving Gordon)
From: GUEST, f udsy
Date: 21 Nov 11 - 04:36 PM

the kentuckian starred, burt lancaster and walter mathau, great movie. '' that's our texas money paw ''