Oral tradition Appalachian folk song
A song for everyone to join in.
Story
This is a cumulative song about a tree with a nest in it – in each verse another feature is added and then all the previous features are sung in reverse order.
Why we chose it
With its repeated lines and cumulative verses this song is great fun to sing.
Where it came from
An Appalachian folk song. It was first written down in 1877 in Nursery Rhymes and Country Songs by M.H.Mason.
Where it went next
A fairly surreal campfire version exists which Scouts sing. It has a surprise ending which is “There was an elephant.” And everyone knows that elephants don’t climb trees!
Oral tradition Appalachian folk song