Lyr Req: Black Oak Tree (John Jacob Niles)

Subject: Looking for Song: Black Oak Tree
From: GUEST,bobbybuzz
Date: 02 Jul 00 - 10:44 PM

I'm trying to find this song for my wife, who sang it MANY years ago in a madrigal group...it goes something like this:

...oh make me a bed where I can quiet be
'neath the elm and the ash of(?) the black oak tree

she thinks that's the title...The Black Oak Tree...any ideas? thanks

Subject: RE: Looking for Song
From: GUEST,JimmyC
Date: 02 Jul 00 - 11:32 PM

Don't know the one but " A North Country Maid" has a chorus with " The Oak and the Ask and the Bonny Elm Tree are all growing green in my north countrie," Could there be a connection ?

Subject: RE: Looking for Song
From: IanC
Date: 03 Jul 00 - 08:10 AM

Bobby

From the tenor of the words, it sounds like the bed's a grave. If this was so, it could possibly be a variant of "Wed to Some Other" or "Bunch of Thyme", both of which have a verse which goes something like this.

O dig me a grave both long, wide and deep And cover it all over with roses so sweet So that I may lie down and take my long sleep And that sleep will last me forever.

Cheers!IanC

Subject: RE: Looking for Song
From: GUEST,JohnB
Date: 03 Jul 00 - 08:23 AM

Our group do a number of madrigals, I am not familiar with those words though. I just visually scanned through the "Oxford book of English Madrigals" Tiltle or words not in there.

To JimmyC "The Oak and the Ask and the Bonny Rowan Tree" are the words I have always known, where does the Elm come from?

Good Luck, JohnB

Subject: Kelligrew's Soiree
From:
Date: 03 Jul 00 - 09:29 PM

This is a New Foundland Folk song I have heard a few times but can't seem to get the words.Thanking anyone in advance who can help. ted brown

Subject: RE: Looking for Song
From: Pene Azul
Date: 04 Jul 00 - 09:05 PM

Ted,

I almost didn't see this buried here inside this thread. You will usually have more success creating a new thread with the name of the song. Anyway, the lyrics are here (click) in the Forum.

(also e-mailed)

Welcome to the Mudcat!

PA

---Folks, please note that the original request has still not been fulfilled---

Subject: RE: Looking for Song
From: sophocleese
Date: 04 Jul 00 - 10:11 PM

I don't remember hearing this one and can't find it in the ChesterBook of Madrigals. I'm trying to get there by elimination.

Subject: RE: Looking for Song
From: GUEST,bobbybuzz
Date: 07 Jul 00 - 12:08 AM

o.k....thanks! so far, tho' no luck...here's more info...sorry, but it's NOT a madrigal...altho' now she's interested in some of the sites mentioned...here's some more lyrics:

make me a bed in a shady little glen

where the blackbirds???????

oh make me a bed where I can quiet be

'neath the elm and the ash and the black oak tree

you took my heart and you took my hand

you left me here love where I stand

...and the title IS Black Oak Tree...thanks for keepin' on tryin'...bbuzz

Subject: RE: Looking for Song
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 Jul 00 - 12:20 AM

You might check the latter postings to this thread. What you are looking for sounds a lot like one we discused over there. I know it as Home Dearie Home, in which it is the "Oak and the Ash, and the bonny Birchen tree"

Good luck...

kat

---

--- Link Fixed ---
-- PA --

Subject: RE: Looking for Song-"The Black Oak Tree"
From: PaulBobbyBuzz
Date: 19 Jan 05 - 02:03 PM

Well, I can't believe how much time has passed, and how seldom I make it over here!   Anyway, I've found the sheet music for it and, if anyone's still interested, other than me, it's "The Black Oak Tree", words & music by John Jacob Niles, copyright now owned by Carl Fischer. My wife is playing guitar again after being paralyzed in 1996, and she's gonna accompany herself on this one. Long story, with a very happy ending. Shame on me for staying away so long. I posted this query in 2000, and, while I've come here now and then, always getting the best and friendliest advice and assistance, life and our music keeps us busy, and not so often on the 'puter.
P.S. Hello to WYSIWYG, who has helped me several times over these last 4 years.
pbb

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BLACK OAK TREE
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 08:51 AM

I found this in a "punk" blog, oddly enough, with no attribution.

THE BLACK OAK TREE

Make me a bed in a shady little dell
Where the song birds cry and the flowers smell,
Oh make me a bed where I quiet be,
'Neath the elm and the ash and the black oak Tree.

If I should die 'twould be for love,
And all the bluest sky above,
And all the stars and the moon and the sun
Would know my heart had been undone.

You took my heart, you took my hand,
You left me here love where I stand,
So I'll shed my tears, my tears in misery
'Neath the elm and the ash and the black oak tree.

Oh dig me a grave in a shady little dell
Where the wild birds cry and the flowers smell,
Oh, dig me a grave where I can quiet be,
'Neath the elm and the ash and the black oak tree.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Black Oak Tree
From: GUEST,Amy
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 05:53 PM

I've been looking everywhere for these lyrics for YEARS! I had a friend in Jr High who sang it for contest 20 years ago and I always thought it was so beautiful, but since it wasn't even me who sang it I remembered almost none of the words. Now if I could just remember the tune...

Thank you thank you thank you!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Black Oak Tree
From: GUEST,susan
Date: 20 Feb 07 - 09:33 AM

I sang this song many years ago. I just remember bits and pieces. I'd like to add a correction or two.

THE BLACK OAK TREE

Make me a bed in a shady little dell
Where the song (wild) birds cry and the flowers smell,
Oh make me a bed where I quiet be,
'Neath the elm and the ash (ash and the elm)and the black oak Tree.

If I should die 'twould be for love,
And all the bluest sky above,
And all the stars and the moon and the sun
Would know my heart had been undone.

You took my heart, you took my hand,
You left me here love where I stand,
So I'll shed my tears, my tears in misery
'Neath the elm and the ash (ash and the elm)and the black oak tree.

Oh dig me a grave in a shady little dell
Where the wild birds cry and the flowers smell,
Oh, dig me a grave where I can quiet be,
'Neath the elm and the ash (ash and the elm)and the black oak tree.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Black Oak Tree
From: GUEST,TNFiddle
Date: 20 Apr 08 - 10:08 PM

To: PaulBobbyBuzz or Anyone with information -

I have also been searching for years for that sog, "The Black Oak Tree". Can you provide the source for the guitar sheet music? I have checked the regular internet sites with no luck.

Thank you.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Black Oak Tree
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Oct 08 - 06:28 PM

I sang this song for a contest about 22 years ago for a contest...oddly enough. It came from my choir teacher. I'd like to add my corrections to the corrections because I never stopped singing it (I have a recording of it too but...yeah).

In the first verse it's song birds, in the last verse it's wild birds. And it's elm and ash, not ash and elm.

THE BLACK OAK TREE

Make me a bed in a shady little dell
Where the SONG birds cry and the flowers smell,
Oh make me a bed where I CAN quiet be,
'Neath the ELM and the ASH and the black oak Tree.

If I should die 'twould be for love,
And all the bluest sky above,
And all the stars and the moon and the sun
Would know my heart had been undone.

You took my heart, you took my hand,
You left me here love where I stand,
So I'll shed my tears, my tears in misery
'Neath the ELM and the ASH and the black oak tree.

Oh dig me a grave in a shady little dell
Where the WILD birds cry and the flowers smell,
Oh, dig me a grave where I can quiet be,
'Neath the ELME and the ASH and the black oak tree.

Subject: Lyr Add: BLACK OAK TREE (John Jacob Niles)
From: GUEST,Abby
Date: 08 Feb 09 - 11:26 PM

"Make me a bed in a shady little dell
Where the song birds cry and the flowers smell.
Oh, make me a bed where I can quiet be
'Neath the elm and the ash and the black oak tree.

If I should die 'twould be for love,
And all the bluest sky above,
And all the stars and the moon and then sun
Would know my heart had been undone.

You took my heart. You took my hand.
You left me here, love, where I stand.
So I'll shed my tears, shed my tears in misery,
'Neath the elm and the ash and the black oak tree.

Oh, dig me a grave in a shady little dell
Where the wild birds cry and the flowers smell.
Oh, dig me a grave where I can quiet be
'Neath the elm and the ash and the black oak tree."

Those are all the lyrics and yes it is called BLACK OAK TREE by: John Jacob Niles.
It's in a minor key and it's a beautiful song

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Black Oak Tree
From: ClaireBear
Date: 09 Jan 10 - 12:56 PM

Here's an amateur YouTube performance, for those who want to be reminded of the tune: The Oak and the Ash and the Black Oak Tree.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Black Oak Tree (John Jacob Niles)
From: GUEST,Music Teacher
Date: 12 Jan 11 - 09:00 AM

I have a copy of the song "The Black Oak Tree" I think it is the one you are looking for. Do you want me to send you a copy of it? It is a solo and is out of print.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Black Oak Tree (John Jacob Niles)
From: GUEST,Grade 5 Teacher
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 11:26 AM

I would be very interested in getting the sheet music for this song, as I couldn't find it in a Carl Fisher search.
Any assistance you could give me would be appreciated.
Thanks!

Subject: Black Oak Tree (John Jacob Niles)
From: GUEST,Suki Jantzen
Date: 09 Dec 12 - 07:09 PM

Hi! I saw that PaulBobbyBuzz found the sheet music for this song. Could he please contact me so I could either buy it wherever he found it or copy his?

[e-mail]

Thank you very, very much.

Suki

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Black Oak Tree (John Jacob Niles)
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 10 Dec 12 - 04:00 PM

I like the tune on the video that Clairebear linked to, and I've made a MIDI of it. I'll send it to Joe for posting. I've changed it from Eb to C.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Black Oak Tree (John Jacob Niles)
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Mar 20 - 03:41 PM

I sang that in HS. The Black Oak Tree, written as far back as 1929