Lyr Req/Add: Story of Hazel Miner (Chuck Suchy)

Subject: Lyr Add: STORY OF HAZEL MINER (Chuck Suchy)
From:
Date: 20 Jan 97 - 03:15 PM

STORY OF HAZEL MINER
(Chuck Suchy)

Wings on the snow, a fate not chose,
Morning finds a dove so froze,
Who too soon thought the spring arrived.
In warmth below, her love survived.

Up in Oliver County, on the North Dakota plain,
Lived a farmer's daughter, Hazel Miner was her name.
She was soon to come in bloom, a prairie rose of spring.
She'd never seen the young girl dreams her 16th year would bring.

Hush a bye, don't you cry, cold is like a sorrow.
Sing a song, it won't be long, you'll be warm tomorrow.

A 1920 mid-March storm caused school to let out early,
So each child could reach their farm before the blizzard's fury.
With her brother, sister bundled tight, Hazel hitched the sleigh.
In the night of blinding white, she somehow lost her way.

For half a day they plodded on, then darkness, desperation,
Hazel put the young ones down, laid her body o'er them.
Through the night she sang them songs and stories to sustain.
Near the dawn, her strength all gone, three by sleep were claimed.

Hush a bye, don't you cry, cold is like a sorrow.
Sing a song, it won't be long, we'll be warm tomorrow.

Silent song, paling wind, storm at end, again begin.
Not all to soar the winds aloft, stiffened wings her feathers soft.

The next day the searchers came and found her horse still standing.
Its eyes and nose frozen closed, no duty more demanding.
They lifted Hazel from the snow, only limp her hair.
With sadness, joy, the girl and boy, alive beneath her there.

Hush a bye, don't you cry, cold is like a sorrow.
Sing a song, it won't be long, you'll be warm tomorrow.

Wings on the snow, a fate not chose,
Morning finds a dove so froze,
Who too soon thought the spring arrived,
In warmth below, her love survived.

Hush a bye, don't you cry, cold is like a sorrow.
Sing a song, it won't be long, you'll be warm tomorrow.
Hush a bye, don't you cry, you'll be warm tomorrow.

NOTES: In his 1986 recording Suchy sings "west Dakota plain.” In the recording issued for the 1989 ND centennial it became "North Dakota plain.” The Prairie Rose is the state flower of ND. The "night of blinding white" is actually a daytime "whiteout" common in blizzards of the northern plains. Visibility can be reduced to a few feet and all landmarks disappear. Hazel Miner lived near the town of Center, ND about 40 miles northwest of Bismarck

rich r

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 11-Feb-02.

Subject: RE: Info please! Hazel Minor
From:
Date: 17 Jan 97 - 09:40 PM

Sorry I think AOL got me. I wrote three different post that AOL said couldn't go through and they even kicked me off once. Now all of them are posted even the ones I couldn't find after I was disconnected. I feel betrayed by technology

Subject: RE: Info please! Hazel Minor
From:
Date: 17 Jan 97 - 09:00 PM

Cristen,

Some Minor corrections.

Song: Story of Hazel Miner (not Minor)

Artist: Chuck Suchy (not Suchey)

Recorded on: Dancing Dakota (1989) and Much To Share (1986)

I will post the lyrics if I get around to wqriting them down.

Contact me by e-mail if you want current address information for Suchy.

rich r

Subject: RE: Info please! Hazel Minor
From:
Date: 17 Jan 97 - 08:37 PM

Cristen,

A few minor corrections after checking the facts.

song: "Story of Hazel Miner" (not Minor)

by: Chuck Suchy (not Suchey)

recorded on: Dancing Dakota (1989) cassette & Flying Fish CD, also on Much To Share (1986) Flying Fish 90382 cassette. Much To Share and Dakota Breezes (1988) have been combined on a CD.

Newest recording: Same Road Home (excellent!)

Contact: Chuck Suchy, Little Bluestem Records, RR6, Box 69, Mandan, ND 58554 (701)-663-7682.

All of the recordings are available directly from him. If I get around to writing down all the words I will post them. If you contact Chuck be sure to point out that you were directed there by Rich Roehrdanz of Fargo. I don't get any kickback, just helping out another ND folksinger.

rich r

Subject: RE: Info please! Hazel Minor
From: Cristen
Date: 17 Jan 97 - 01:15 PM

Thank you Rich R!

Subject: RE: Info please! Hazel Minor
From:
Date: 15 Jan 97 - 10:02 PM

The song is The Ballad of Hazel Minor. It is written and recorded by Chuck Suchey a farmer/folksinger who lives in Mandan, ND. It is based on a true story that happened earlier this century. There is a statue to young Hazel in the county seat of Oliver County which is located between Bismark and Lake Sakakawea. The song is on at least 2 of Suchey's recordings: Dancing Dakota, which was released during the ND centenniel in 1989 was a cassette that I think was reissued as A CD by Flying Fish. The song was also on an earlier casette, I think Dakota Breezes, but I do not have his casettes here right now. I believe Dakota Breezes and his first album were also reissued as a combined CD. He is a wonderful performer and released a new CD on his own label last spring. My guess is that if you wrote to Chuck Suchey, Folksinger, Mandan, ND he would likely get it. I will try to gather up my Suchey collection to see if there is more info I am missing.

rich r

Subject: Info please! Hazel Minor
From: Cristen
Date: 15 Jan 97 - 05:13 PM

Hi! I'm looking for information about a song I heard on Gene Shay's Sunday night folkmusic Philadelphia radio show a few years ago. I call it "Wings On Snow", though this may well not be its true title. It tells the story of a young woman named Hazel Minor who sets off on a buggy ride with her two young charges and encounters a lethal blizzard. The song mentions Oliver County?, on the North Dakota plains. Is anyone familiar with the song? Know who wrote it? Who has performed it? What the complete lyrics are? Any info would be much appreciated!