Traveling this week so unable to record. However, after spending the day hiking in Lost Maples Park, couldn't resist the subject matter. The story of Lost Maples Park is true . . . . . . . Sadie . . . . . . maybe.
Sadie and the lost Maples
In the rolling hills of Texas
under the leaves of the lost maple trees
a girl grew up named sadie,
all alone, ill at ease
no one knew where she came from
no one knew her last name
still all the local folk cared for her
to them all children were one and the same
and the lost maples continued to grow
in a place people said they didn't belong
surounded by mighty oaks and cottonwood
maple trees, something was wrong
and as sadie grew older
she managed some how to get by
cleaning cabins for tourists
who said good night, the next day good bye
but sadie always wondered
were her parents rich,or were they poor
and why did they leave her
all alone at some strangers door
and one day someone called for her
a man known only as old John
said he was sick and needed some help
could sadie care for him, it wouldn't be long
sadie packed and moved in with old john
so he wouldn't be alone
john said that when he left this earth
he'd leave his cabin for her, she'd have a home
and there's one more thing he said,
he'd a secret to tell
a clue to where she came from
she'd find the truth, when he'd be safe in hell
and time came and he drew sadie near
he said the secrets in those lost maple trees
find where they came from
sadie your mind will be at ease
after old john was buried
she went to lost maples park
asked a ranger where they came from
please she begged, don't leave her in the dark
he said he'd tell her everything
and there was nothing she should fear
the fact is that since the begining of time
the maple trees have always been here
a tear was shed and sadie went home
she didn't understand
then she noticed an old bible
the one old john kept in his hand
she leafed through the pages one at a time
came upon a family tree
on the top the name said john maples
and underneath, the name was sadie
Hi Neil,
Nice story telling. :mrgreen: You kept my interest all the way to the end.
At the end, I was a bit let down....or left to wondering why John would have kept the relationship a secret....seems a cruel thing to do.....unless it's spelled out a bit more as to a dark secret that would make not telling more a loving gesture than telling......even Darth Vader revealed he was Luke's father LOL :P
I have a feeling once you get to recording this, it will be hard to clock under 6 minutes, but I'm willing to have a listen :wink:
Thanks for sharing.
James
Lost Maples sounds like a great place. I like the idea of tying your current life travel to the topic. Very often, I try to write about things I don't know and never arrive with a song. Too many false starts. Good writers write about what they know.
Your story ran a bit long for me. Ant idea how long a recording would be?
Thanks, guys,
both really valid comments . The unfortunate thing about making up a song while you're hiking is that you have lots of time to think. I was able to create a really over involved story with lots of different elements and different endings. The version you see is actually the edited one. I guess this is where the refinement stage comes in.
Neil
Nice story telling. You kept my interest all the way to the end.
+1
As far as its length is concerned, yes it is long but, you could make 2 songs of it, Part 1 and Part 2
much like Colin Meloy of The Decemberists did with Crane Wife (Parts 1, 2 & 3) each part a song in it's own right but each also tells its own piece of the story(Man I wish I could write like he does). Check out this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPOMHM6waxk
So in your case Part 1 tells the story of Sadie before meeting her father Part 2 the relationship she has with this unknown man.
By the way I liked the Maple reference in his name.
nice work Neil :D
Paul
Thanks, Paul,
Interesting idea, one I'm sure I wouldn't have come up on my own. Too, thanks for the link. Wasn't familiar with Colin.
Neil
