I learned to play this old Carter family song years ago when I found it in a book in my mother's piano bench. The lyrics are mournful, as you might expect from folk songs of that day, the predecessors to the more current you-shot-my-dog country lyrics. The original lyrics were more refined, but the Carters customized and made it work for them.
Listen here.
And sing along here:
WILDWOOD FLOWER
As recorded by The Carter Family
Written by Maud Irving, 1860
CAPO: 2nd Fret/KEY: E/PLAY: D
[D] Oh, I'll twine with my mingles and [A7] waving black [D] hair
With the roses so red and the [A7] lilies so [D] fair
And the myrtle so [D7] bright with the [G] emerald [D] hue
The pale and the leader and [A7] eyes look like [D] blue.
Oh I'll dance, I will sing and my laugh shall be gay
I will charm every heart, in his crown I will sway
When I woke from my dreaming, my idol was clay
All portion of love had all flown away.
Oh he taught me to love him and promised to love
And to cherish me over all others above
How my heart is now wond'ring no mis'ry can tell
He's left me no warning, no words of farewell.
Oh, he taught me to love him and called me his flow'r
That was blooming to cheer him through life's dreary hour
Oh, I long to see him and regret the dark hour
He's gone and neglected this pale wildwood flow'r.
Listen here.
And sing along here:
WILDWOOD FLOWER
As recorded by The Carter Family
Written by Maud Irving, 1860
CAPO: 2nd Fret/KEY: E/PLAY: D
[D] Oh, I'll twine with my mingles and [A7] waving black [D] hair
With the roses so red and the [A7] lilies so [D] fair
And the myrtle so [D7] bright with the [G] emerald [D] hue
The pale and the leader and [A7] eyes look like [D] blue.
Oh I'll dance, I will sing and my laugh shall be gay
I will charm every heart, in his crown I will sway
When I woke from my dreaming, my idol was clay
All portion of love had all flown away.
Oh he taught me to love him and promised to love
And to cherish me over all others above
How my heart is now wond'ring no mis'ry can tell
He's left me no warning, no words of farewell.
Oh, he taught me to love him and called me his flow'r
That was blooming to cheer him through life's dreary hour
Oh, I long to see him and regret the dark hour
He's gone and neglected this pale wildwood flow'r.
Comments
Thank you.
I liked the cute little arpeggios you snuck in there.
I love the Carter Family. Real Country Music before it was corrupted by Nashville; when it was still growing from folk traditions and parlour music.
Wildwood Flower is an old favourite. Now I'm going to have to get my Carter Family CDs out and let them sing my cares away while I get stuck into the weekend's housework.