schlange - Posted - 06/27/2014:  11:53:37

John Hartford's 1984 Album

"Gum Tree Canoe"

This week's tune is a waltz popularized by John Hartford in the 1980's, but it first published in 1847.

S. S. Steele wrote the original lyrics and A. F. Winnemore wrote the original melody. Both were published in the 1847 book "Plantation Melodies" (see the original sheet music). Based on the dialect and time period written it is assumed this tune is part of the blackface minstrel tradition.

(For anyone who's curious, the Tombigbee River referred to in the first line of the song flows from northeastern Mississippi into the Alabama River.)

Hartford released his album "Gum Tree Canoe" in 1984, and this became one of his most popular tunes. He played it on his low-tuned banjo in the key of E, and his melody is noticeably different from the original melody (hear the original melody).

Lyrics:

On the Tombigbee River so bright I was born

In a hut made of husks of the tall yellow corn

And there I first spied my Julia so true

And I rowed her about in my gum tree canoe

Sing row away row o'er the waters so blue

Like a feather we'll float in our gum tree canoe

Sing 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 think of my Julia and sing as I go

And I'd catch her a bird with a wing of true blue

And at night sail around in my gum tree canoe

With my hands on the banjo and a toe on the oar

I'd sing to the sound of the river's soft roar

While the stars are lookin' down on my Julia so true

And dance in her eyes in my gum tree canoe

One day the stream bore us so far away

That we couldn't come back so we thought we'd just stay

Then we spied a tall ship with a flag of true blue

And it took us in tow in our gum tree canoe

(From John Hartford's version)

Learn the Tune:

• Hear It using the GrooveShark playlist to the right.


• Casey Henry has posted a Murphy Method lesson so you can learn the break on this tune (key of G)--only $6 thru the end of the week.​ Get it here >


• John Boulding will be posting a backup lesson for this tune soon, I'll post the link here once I have it


• Backing Tracks: Band in a Box tracks are included below at various speeds for your practicing pleasure. 


• Tabs: here's a decent tab of Hartford's 2 breaks, from Justin Davis

Share!

I (and others) would love to hear (and see!) you play your version of this tune--post it in a reply below!

Gum Tree Canoe Backing Track (E) 90BPM	Gum Tree Canoe Backing Track (E) 110BPM	Gum Tree Canoe Backing Track (E) 130BPM	VIDEO: John Hartford - Gum Tree Canoe (click to view)
VIDEO: Gum Tree Canoe (click to view)	VIDEO: Rob McLaren's Recital - Gum Tree Canoe (click to view)	VIDEO: Gum Tree Canoe, 1847 - written by S S Steele (click to view)	VIDEO: Gum Tree Canoe - Excerpt from the Custom Banjo Lesson from The Murphy Method (click to view)
"Plantation Melodies" book from 1847 - original publishing of "Gum Tree Canoe"	Gum Tree Canoe Chords

JanetB - Posted - 06/27/2014:  14:27:43

Well, Eric, many of us will be happy to see John Hartford's music showcased here.  I recorded the chorus to Gum Tree Canoe sandwiched in a medley with Tombigbee Waltz named for the river in the first line of the song.  Your thread here will encourage me to finish learning Gum Tree Canoe (which, BTW, has over a 2-octave range, more proof of the virtuosity of John Hartford).

Tombigbee Waltz/Gum Tree Canoe

MrManners - Posted - 06/27/2014:  17:17:11

this is the album where john is playing a stelling wood tone,according to the liner notes, some real nice banjo tones on that album

bigfiddle51 - Posted - 06/27/2014:  17:23:22

Thanks Eric lots of us will in joy this Thanks Jimmy

pasturepicker - Posted - 06/27/2014:  20:26:19

If I recall, a tab for Gum Tree Canoe is in Trischka and Wernick's Masters Of The Five String Banjo.

Charles in SC - Posted - 06/29/2014:  17:27:48

This song is one of the ones I play regularly when I am playing solo. Everybody that hears it seems to like it but I have a hard time getting anyone to want to play it with me. I think this is because mostly it is just known by John Hartford fans. I have run into the same thing with the song "Goin' Back To Dixie" which I love.

David M - Posted - 07/01/2014:  06:18:49

A favourite of mine to play and sing along to, softly in the ear of my very own Julia.. ;-) I had to learn the song after hearing John's amazing rendition on the programme 'Echo's of America' in the 80's.

caseyhenry - Posted - 07/05/2014:  11:25:55

Just did a lesson for John Hartford's high break, and some backup rolls: youtu.be/R97wbDwHdlQ

​It's not available for purchase here on the Hangout yet (I'll work on that) but you can get it straight from me if you want it.

Casey