The drought continues to be a frequent topic of conversation this summer. It is wreaking so much havoc in our beautiful state of California. The forests and grasslands are so very parched but the electrical storms that bring summer rains are sparking forest fires from one end of the state to the other.
I recently made a trip up Highway 101 to Eureka. This scenic highway takes you through some breathtakingly beautiful forests, including several redwood groves. Some of these magnificent trees can reach heights of nearly 400 feet and can date back to the time of Christ. It is mind boggling to think of the billions of matchsticks you could make from one tree and then realize that just one carelessly tossed match can take the massive tree down, along with many more.
As we passed through the Mendocino County town of Laytonville, the smoke from a large forest fire was quite dense and irritated the nose and eyes. I’m not complaining; all I could think of was what the dedicated firefighters had to endure. I actually met some of them at a deli in Willets and was able to thank them personally. I was also pleased to see many makeshift signs along the highway expressing thanks to the firefighters. Some of you may have attended a Kate Wolf Festival at Black Oak Ranch in Laytonville. When I passed by there last week, the field was being used as a landing pad for helicopters that were on fire duty. I’m grateful for their valiant efforts to save the beautiful forests. Here’s a quote I found while looking for a suitable quote for the Daily Grist: “When trees burn, they leave the smell of heartbreak in the air.” Jodi Thomas, Welcome to Harmony.
We look to the trees for so many different things; fruits, nuts, coffee, home building materials, furniture, coffins, paper, fencing, shade, landscaping, etc. Of course, every picker among us will think of the many beautiful musical instruments we own that come from one type of tree or another. Rosewoods, spruce, mahogany, walnut, koa and maple are commonly used woods for stringed instruments.
There are many songs in our genre that have to do with trees; Tall Pines, Bury Me Beneath the Willow, Maple on the Hill, Love of the Mountains, Hickory Wind, to name a few. The tree in some way stands as a memorial to an event or relationship in the past and upon one’s return, nothing has remained the same but the tree is still there and the memories come flooding back. Perhaps it brings thoughts of a mom and dad who had long ago bade their children farewell as they left home to seek fame or fortune in a distant land. In the song, Maple on the Hill, the story is of a young lad who courted his Geneva beneath the maple on the hill, and now he’s about to die and leave her alone to mourn under that same tree. In the case of the Gram Parson song, Hickory Wind, I believe it is the smell of hickory wood smoke that conjures up reveries of younger days and the need to return home. If you want to hear a beautiful rendition of this song, watch the You Tube video of AJ Lee and the Tuttles.
There are some Gospel songs that also refer to trees. One that stands out in my mind is “He Grew the Tree.” The main line of the song…He grew the tree that He knew would be used to make the old rugged cross. There are several songs that refer to the cross of crucifixion as “The Tree.” As a Christian, of course these songs are close to my heart. I guess in this respect, you could call me a tree hugger…I will cling to the Old Rugged Cross and exchange it someday for a crown. Until next time, read a book, write a song, pet a dogwood, and hug a tree. God bless.
