Maple on the Hill

DESCRIPTION: The singer recalls the maple on the hill "Where I sat with my Geneva long ago." Now, as he is dying, he bids her, "Don't forget me, little darling, when they lay me down to die"; he must "leave you and that maple on the hill."
AUTHOR: Gussie L. Davis (1863-1899)
EARLIEST DATE: 1926 (Recording, Vernon Dalhart); said to have been written 1880)
KEYWORDS: death separation
FOUND IN: US(Ap,SE)
REFERENCES (5 citations):
Boette-SingaHipsyDoodle, p. 57, "The Maple on the Hill" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roberts/Agey-InThePine #90, "Maple on the Hill" (1 text, 1 tune)
Neely/Spargo-TalesAndSongsOfSouthernIllinois, pp. 240-241, "The Maple on the Hill" (1 text)
Brown/Schinhan-FrankCBrownCollectionNCFolklore5706, "Maple on the Hill" (1 short text, 1 tune)
DT, MAPLHILL
Roud #4333
RECORDINGS:
Buckeye Boys, "The Maple on the Hill" (Supertone 2616, 1930; Champion 45160, 1935) (Crown [Canada] 95083/Melotone[Canada] 93083/Minerva M-14046, 1936)
Homer & Walter Callahan, "Maple on the Hill" (ARC 6-06-57/Conqueror 8689/OKeh 02973/Vocalion 02973, 1936; Columbia 37601/Columbia 20200, 1947)
Vernon Dalhart, "We Sat Beneath the Maple on the Hill" (Vocalion 5044, 1926)
(Tom) Darby & (Jimmie) Tarlton, "Maple on the Hill" (Columbia 15591-D, 1930)
Farmer Sisters, "Maple on the Hill" (Vocalion 03104, 1935)
Uncle Dave Macon, "Maple on the Hill" (Vocalion 5158, 1927)
J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers, "Maple on the Hill" (Bluebird B-6065/Montgomery Ward M-4710, 1935; Montgomery Ward M-4969, 1936; RCA Victor 20-3241, 1948)
Holland Puckett, "The Maple On The Hill" (Gennett 6532/Supertone 9186, 1928)
Posey Rorrer & The North Carolina Ramblers, "As We Sat Beneath The Maple On The Hill" (Edison 20005/Ed 52414/CYL: Edison 5615 [as by Posey Rorer's North Carolina Ramblers], 1929; rec. 1928)
Frank Welling & John McGhee, "The Maple On The Hill" (Perfect 5-12-59, 1935; Conqueror 8638, 1936)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Don't Forget Me, Little Darling (I)" (floating lyrics)
SAME TUNE:
Crowder Brothers, "New Maple on the Hill" (Conqueror 8782/Oriole 07-02-63, 1937; rec. 1936)
Dixie Reelers, "Answer to Maple on the Hill - Part 2" (Bluebird B-6713/Montgomery Ward M-7099, 1936)
Dixon Brothers, "Answer to Maple on the Hill - Part 1" (Bluebird B-6462, 1936)
Dixon Brothers, "Maple on the Hill - Part 3" (Bluebird B-6630, 1936)
Dixon Brothers, "Maple on the Hill - Part 4" (Montgomery Ward M-7170, 1937)
Wade Mainer, "Maple on the Hill - Part 2" (Bluebird B-6293, 1936)
Wade Mainer & Zeke Morris, "Maple on the Hill, Part 2" (Bluebird B-6293, 1936)
J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers "Maple on the Hill - Part 3" (Bluebird B-6293, 1936)
Prairie Ramblers, "Maple on the Hill - Part 2" (Perfect 6-09-60, 1936)
Prairie Ramblers, "Maple on the Hill No. 4" (Melotone 7-09-51, 1937)
Don Weston, "Maple on the Hill Is Gone" (Decca 5421, 1937)
NOTES [110 words]: The Dixon Brothers had an "Answer to Maple on the Hill" and at least two additional "parts" to the song. Mainer's Mountaineers also had a "Part 3." What did the guy do, come back as a ghost?
This song has rarely if ever been collected in tradition, but its popularity with old-time singers (see the recording list and the "Same Tune" knock-offs) eventually made me decide to include it here.
For brief background on composer Gussie L. Davis, see the notes to "The Baggage Coach Ahead." - RBW
[Ten] recordings by old-time singers between 1927 and 1936 -- yes, it absolutely belongs in. I call that "being collected from tradition," albeit in a roundabout way. - PJS
Last updated in version 6.7
File: DTmaplhi

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