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Gum Tree Canoe (1847)

from Sonic Spaces: American Tunes by Stephen Riddell

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This tune is called Gum Tree Canoe and, according to Stephen's research, appears to have first been published in 1847 in a songbook titled Plantation Melodies.

On this track, Stephen sings the song accompanied by the sounds of gentle rowing and a soft river's roar...

We first encountered it through the arrangement by John Hartford, and hopefully his ineffable charm is still present in our version of the tune!

lyrics

On the Tom Big Bee River so bright I was born
In a hut made of husks of the tall yellow corn
It was there I first spied my Julah so true
And I rowed her about in my gum tree canoe

Singing row away row o’er the waters so blue
Like a feather we’ll float in our gum tree canoe
Singing row away row o’er the waters so blue
Like a feather we’ll float in our gum tree canoe

All day in the fields of soft cotton I’d hoe
And I'd think of my Julah and sing as I go
I’d catch her a bird with a wing of true blue
And at night sail around in my gum tree canoe

Singing row away row o’er the waters so blue
Like a feather we’ll float in our gum tree canoe
Singing row away row o’er the waters so blue
Like a feather we’ll float in our gum tree canoe

With my hands on my banjo and a toe on the oar
I'd sing to the sound of the river’s soft roar
While the bright stars shone down on my Julah so true
And they danced in her eyes on my gum tree canoe

Singing row away row o’er the waters so blue
Like a feather we’ll float in our gum tree canoe
Singing row away row o’er the waters so blue
Like a feather we’ll float in our gum tree canoe

One day the old river took us so far away
That we couldn’t get back, so we thought we’d just stay
We spied us a ship with a flag of true blue
And it took us in tow in our gum tree canoe

Singing row away row o’er the waters so blue
Like a feather we’ll float in our gum tree canoe
Singing row away row o’er the waters so blue
Like a feather we’ll float in our gum tree canoe

Singing row away row o’er the waters so blue
Like a feather we’ll float in our gum tree canoe
Singing row away row o’er the waters so blue
Like a feather we’ll float in our gum tree canoe

credits

from Sonic Spaces: American Tunes, released January 24, 2019

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Riddell Productions Wellington, New Zealand

Riddell Productions was founded in 2014 by Stephen & Amanda Riddell.

Stephen is a folk singer-songwriter and sound engineer who plays piano, guitar and harmonica.

Amanda is a virtuosa guitarist and composer who enjoys playing show music from the golden age of Broadway. ... more

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