Origins: To My Old Brown Earth (Seeger)

Subject: RE: Chord Req: To My Old Brown Earth (Seeger)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 May 19 - 09:19 PM

My friend Marge Lev died in March, just before her 90th birthday. Her favorite folk singer was Pete Seeger. and her favorite Pete Seeger song was "To My Old Brown Earth." No doubt, we'll sing it at Marge's memorial service on Memorial Day weekend this month.

The song has been recorded many times, and there are lots of recordings on YouTube. I just came across this, which was posted by Graham Pratt:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pM3cmV22mI

The song has a 1958 copyright, but the earliest Pete Seeger recording I could find of the song is on a 1964 Folkways album titled Broadsides: Songs and Ballads Sung by Pete Seeger:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9OlsSxcu-8

Pete did a recording with the Cathedral Singers much later, and it appears on the 1996 album titled Pete:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eERiCgqyha4

I really love the way Pat Humphries sings this song. She'll be at the San Francisco Free Folk Festival on June 8. No doubt, she'll sing this and other Pete Seeger songs. Here's her recording:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qu4P5xyky8o

I'm part of the group leading a Pete Seeger singalong at the Free Folk Fest, and Pat will be on the stage with us.

Hope you enjoy these recordings.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Chord Req: To My Old Brown Earth (Seeger)
From: GUEST
Date: 02 May 19 - 06:03 PM

I am looking for a copy of "to my old brown earth" I know it isn't onany of his albums bu is thee anyway I can get a copy of the original that was played at his funeral? I want it very badly...?

Subject: RE: Chord Req: To My Old Brown Earth (Seeger)
From: GUEST
Date: 22 May 16 - 11:19 AM

Here are the chords:

To My Old Brown Earth    Pete Seeger

(C)    (F)    (C)    (F)
To my (C)old (F)brown (C)earth(F)
(C) And to my (F)old blue (C)sky
(F) I'll now give these (G)last few molecules of (C) I."(F)    (C)    (F)

And (C)you (F)who (C)sing,(F)
And (C)you who (F)stand near(C)by,
(F) I do (Em7)charge you not to (Am)cry.

Guard (G)well our (F)human (G)chain,
Watch well you (F)keep it (G)strong,
As long as (F)sun will (G)shine.

And (C)this (F)our (C)home,(F)
Keep (C)pure and (F)sweet and (C)green,
For (F)now I'm yours,
And (G)you are also (C) mine. (F)    (C)    (F)
- Instrumental, first three sections, hummed -

And (C)this (F)our (C)home,(F)
Keep (C)pure and (F)sweet and (C)green,
For (F)now I'm yours,
And (G)you are also (C) mine.(F)    (C)    (F)
Hm (C)hmm (F)hmm (C)hmmm…

© Pete Seeger, All Rights Reserved

The way I play it, mainly Pat Humphries´ version without the long intro.

[e-mail]

janhauenstein.com

Subject: RE: Chord Req: To My Old Brown Earth (Seeger)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 11:59 AM

For the record, the lyrics are here (click) in the Digital Tradition. Most of Pete's songs are in his book, Where Have All the Flowers Gone (Sing Out, 1993). The book has the tune for this song - click the link below to play or download my MIDI. No chords, though. Most of the songs in the book have chords, but not this one.
-Joe Offer-

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Click to play

Subject: RE: Chord Req: To My Old Brown Earth
From: GUEST,Anyone able to help?
Date: 02 Feb 05 - 11:34 PM

Still trying to figure this out.

Thanks for any help.

Andy

Subject: Chord Req: To My Old Brown Earth
From: GUEST,Andy
Date: 01 Feb 05 - 02:07 PM

Hello,

I had a good friend pass away, and I would like to sing and play Pete's "To My Old Brown Earth" for the memorial.

I am new to the guiar, and can't figure out the chords. Could someone please help me?

I would be forever grateful.

Sincerely,

Andy