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Lyr Req: Song about a tree that becomes a fiddle

05 Jul 09 - 09:49 PM (#2672378)
Subject: Lyr Req: Song about a tree that becomes a fiddle
From: Mark Ross

My partner Jenny wants to find a song about a tree that becomes a fiddle, starting out with "When I was....", anyone out there in 'Catland have any ideas?

Mark Ross

05 Jul 09 - 11:18 PM (#2672401)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about a tree that becomes a fiddle
From: MRyer

I remember that Laurie Lewis wrote a song like that. I heard Christina Muir sing it ten or fifteen years ago. A really great song as I remember. Sorry can't put my hands on the words.

Maybe this will help a little. Good luck.

05 Jul 09 - 11:24 PM (#2672406)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE MAPLE'S LAMENT (Laurie Lewis)
From: MRyer

I just had a look and found this on her web site:

^^
THE MAPLE'S LAMENT
(Laurie Lewis/Spruce and Maple Music)
From "Restless Rambling Heart" (Flying Fish 406)

When I was alive the birds would nest upon my boughs
And all through long winter nights the storms would 'round me howl
And when the day would come, I'd raise my branches to the sun
I was the child of earth and sky, and all the world was one

But now that I am dead the birds no longer sing in me
And I feel no more the wind and rain as when I was a tree
But bound so tight in wire strings, I have no room to grow
And I am but the slave who sings, when master draws the bow

But sometimes from my memory I can sing the birds in flight
And I can sing of sweet dark earth and endless starry nights
But oh, my favorite song of all, I truly do believe
Is the song the sunlight sang for me while dancing on my leaves

05 Jul 09 - 11:31 PM (#2672409)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about a tree that becomes a fiddle
From: open mike

absolutely...it is by Laurie Lewis and called the Maple's Lament.
I sing it all the time...accapella, and i am sure i have done it
at Toledo!

it happens to be featured on the song of the month on her web page
http://www.laurielewis.com/featured.htm

and is also in her song book...

she has a few choice songs highlighted on her web page...
such as wood thrush...http://www.laurielewis.com/

The Maple's Lament. (Laurie Lewis/Spruce and Maple Music). From "Restless Rambling Heart" (Flying Fish 406).

Laurie has done quite a few bird songs, and some are recorded on a
collection she did for the benefit of the Audubon society.

Here are the lyrics...(she plays the Norwegian Hardanger fiddle on
the recording)

THE MAPLE"S LAMENT

When I was alive the birds would nest upon my boughs
And all through long winter nights the storms would 'round me howl
And when the day would come, I'd raise my branches to the sun
I was the child of earth and sky, and all the world was one

But now that I am dead the birds no longer sing in me
And I feel no more the wind and rain as when I was a tree
But bound so tight in wire strings, I have no room to grow
And I am but the slave who sings, when master draws the bow

But sometimes from my memory I can sing the birds in flight
And I can sing of sweet dark earth and endless starry nights
But oh, my favorite song of all, I truly do believe
Is the song the sunlight sang for me while dancing on my leaves


I love this song, and many others that Laurie has brought to us!!

Laurel

05 Jul 09 - 11:33 PM (#2672411)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about a tree that becomes a fiddle
From: open mike

oh now you got it twice!

perhaps it will be added to the D.T.

05 Jul 09 - 11:46 PM (#2672419)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about a tree that becomes a fiddle
From: open mike

this is also discussed in these threads..

http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=30277#387784
http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=117565#2535629
http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=30277#1033385

but it is not yet in the D.T. (what's up with that??!!)

06 Jul 09 - 10:44 AM (#2672842)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about a tree that becomes a fidd
From: Mark Ross

That's the one, thanks.

Mark Ross

06 Jul 09 - 08:12 PM (#2673407)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about a tree that becomes a fiddle
From: Joe_F

Arbor viva tacui, mortua cano.
(As a living tree I was silent; as a dead one I sing.)

Inscription found in an old fiddle.

07 Jul 09 - 11:50 AM (#2673949)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about a tree that becomes a fiddle
From: Howard Jones

The best fiddles are made out of young women:

@displaysong.cfm?SongID=7162

07 Jul 09 - 12:29 PM (#2673979)
Subject: Lyr Add: TURN THE LATHE GENTLY (Ashley Hutchings)
From: Rifleman (inactive)

TURN THE LATHE GENTLY
(Ashley Hutchings)

There once was an ash but the axe cut it down
Turn the lathe gently and mindfully turn
Which caused a great fury all over the town
Turn the lathe gently the better to learn

The townspeople marched to the woodman straight way
Turn the lathe gently and mindfully turn
The woodman looked up from his work and did say
Turn the lathe gently the better to learn

You swung from its branches and kicked up its leaves
Turn the lathe gently and mindfully turn
But I make better play when I roll up my sleeves
Turn lathe gently the better to learn

You carved on its bark two names in a ring
Turn the lathe gently and mindfully turn
But I'll carve from its heart a far better thing
Turn the lathe gently the better to learn

The woodman he worked through the day and the night
Turn the lathe gently and mindfully turn
And he fnished his treasure before it was light
Turn the lathe gently the better to learn

As slowly the sun rose to wake the first bird
Turn the lathe gently and mindfully turn
Sweet sounds of a newly made fiddle were heard
Turn the lathe gently the better to learn

The ash had been silent, the stillest of trees
Turn the lathe gently and mindfully turn
But now it makes music the townsfolk to please
Turn the lathe gently the better to learn

from the album Sway With Me: a celebration of the tree and its offspring

Judy Dunlop & Ashley Hutchings

07 Jul 09 - 01:03 PM (#2674003)
Subject: Lyr Add: A WARNING TO FIDDLERS
From: Jack Blandiver

I know a one about a fiddle that becomes a tree:


A WARNING TO FIDDLERS - Anon. but not Traditional

The fiddler was out, out upon his rounds,
getting all the bonny lassies dancing up and down,
and when he was a-fiddling he would kiss them on the crown,
All among the leaves so green-o...

Jenny lass! Master? Dance you well?
Very well! Hey down, ho, down, derry derry down

Among the leaves so green-o etc.

He'd dance them dizzy and he'd dance them gay,
he'd dance them in and out of bed then set upon his way,
And leave them all lamenting such a woeful dancing day
All among the leaves so green-o...

So the lassies loved each other 'til the morning sun it shone,
Then they made a potion and they chanted words unknown,
Then they sent a hedgehog for to track the fiddler down
All among the leaves so green-o...

Says the hedgehog to the fiddler, your fiddle needs a clean,
I've got the very ointment here to give it shine and sheen,
And when they see your fiddle in each eye will be a gleam,
All among the leaves so green-o...

The fiddler took the polish, and he busied with his cloth,
And resting by the wayside, his he did fiddle doth,
But when he tried to lift it, it was rooted fast in troth,
All among the leaves so green-o...

The more he pulled so the faster it stuck,
His bonny little fiddle it was rooted in the muck,
Then it grew a leafy branch that punched him in the - gut.
All among the leaves so green-o...

And to the fiddle-tree came every bonny bird in song
And the bonny lasses made a ring and danced it round and round,
And now that poor fiddler has to diddle all alone,
All among the leaves so green-o...

So come all you saucy fiddlers and mind out what you're at
Never kiss a lassie without giving something back,
For the cunning of a lassie takes the wood right out of your pack,
All among the leaves so green-o...

08 Jul 09 - 10:21 AM (#2674733)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about a tree that becomes a fiddle
From: Donuel

There are some old violins still out there that have a couple of lines of Maple's lament written either on the inside or on the back.

I wrote and illustrated an acclaimed new fiddle tune titled "this ol violin"
I will need to make a new link since my website died.

08 Jul 09 - 12:48 PM (#2674842)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about a tree that becomes a fiddle
From: open mike

that reminds me of a postcard i once saw...with a woman who had violin "F" sound holes tatooed on her back...can't find a picture, though.

08 Jul 09 - 01:10 PM (#2674873)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about a tree that becomes a fiddle
From: Jack Campin

The image derived from Man Ray - do a googleimage search for "Man Ray cello". I'm not sure how Ray did it, but I suspect it was either painted on the negative or on the woman's back, not tattooed.

09 Jul 09 - 08:26 PM (#2676159)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about a tree that becomes a fiddle
From: Donuel

here is the illustrted version
This ol' fiddle

If you care to see the chords and melody you can PM me.