I grew up hearing the old gospel song Fallen Leaves. Uncle Henry Truett was rather well known in our area for singing it. I guess you could say it was his signature song. I remember Uncle Henry came to see Papaw Wade Wilson in the days before he died. As Papaw lay in his sickbed, Uncle Henry belted out Fallen Leaves right there with no music, just singing from his heart in an effort to comfort Papaw Wade.
Uncle Henry Truett was Granny Gazzie Jenkins’ brother. He lived just below her and always made it up to say a hearty hello to everyone gathered around on Sunday afternoons.
Louis Marshall Jones, better known as Grandpa Jones wrote Fallen Leaves. Paul said he read or heard Jones say he was inspired to write the song after attending a funeral in the fall of the year with leaves blowing about during the graveside service.
The lyrics to the song are simple, but really profound and meaningful if you give the song your full attention. The Blind Pig Gang’s been doing Fallen Leaves for a good long while now, I thought you might enjoy hearing us.
Hope you enjoyed the song!
Tipper
would love to hear this played on a Mountain Dulcimer or Seagull Merlin. These folks sing it so well. Every time I hear it, it takes me to thoughts of Jesus. Thank you.
Great job. My brothers favorite song who passed in 1977… played this at my mothers funeral in august this year.
Thanks
Absolutely love your post and music. My family is from Harlan KY, keep it coming
Great song and excellent musicianship.
Has anyone got the sheet music ?
Thanks.
I like listening to their music. I grew up listening to Blue grass music.
We sung this yesterday morning at church but we don’t hardly sound as good as yall. 🙂
it’s Monday and I’m just now listening to Fallen Leaves — and you know something,I NEED it today. So soothing and sad at the same time.
Bro Tom and I always wonder at the city folks who rake up every single leaf that falls; don’t they understand, that blanket of fallen leaves is a part of God’s Plan for protecting for tender things sheltering beneath during cold winter weather?
We have mostly pines here in the NC sand hills, with a few gorgeous huge sycamores scattered here and there. Not many leaves, but gathering up pine needles this time of the year to put around the trees and shrubs to shelter the flowers planted there that will come up in Spring is almost a full time job some days, but Bro Tom is generally steady at it, liking the look of the beds and borders when he’s done.
God bless.
RB
<><
Chuck’s story was so touching. Sometimes new leaves get knocked down too.
The song left me a little melancholy but it was still beautifully done – as always.
Tipper: I never heard the song until today! The fellows sound great and Jim was delighted to hear the mandolin! He is working hard to learn how to play the mandolin. BUT HE WON’T GO TO THE PLACE OVER IN KNOXVILLE WHERE FOLKS SIT AROUND AND PLAY JUST ABOUT EVERYDAY IN THE WEEK. I think he is shy!
Regards,
Eva Nell
I have this and 9 more Blind Pig songs on a CD in my truck and listen to them 3 or 4 times a week, and have never gotten tired of them. I really appreciate the music you all share. Keep up the good work.
Tipper,
Fallen Leaves is one of my favorites,
and the Blind Pig Gang singing it
would make GrandPa Jones happy.
Last night was a real treat, getting
to see the Pressley Girls on stage.
Chitter announced the songs before all that great harmony got started. She may talk a little fast, but don’t all young people? Chatter sung her song about the “Wind” that she wrote and it was just beautiful.
Also Ben and Mark played the guitar
and mandolin to help promote that
great sound. It was an evening of
nice entertainment, I’m glad I went.
…Ken
I never heard of the song but I sure enjoyed hearing them sing it. Beautiful harmony!
TIPPER I LIKED THE SONG FALLEN LEAVES BUT I HAVE NEVER HEARD IT
BEFORE WISH YOU HAD A CD WITH IT ON IT
JOHNIE IN ARK,
TIPPER I LIKED THE SONG FALLEN LEAVES BUT I HAVE NEVER HEARD IT
BEFORE WISH YOU HAD A CD WITH IT ON IT
JOHNIE IN ARK,
Tipper,
“Fallen Leaves”, passing thru this world to a better life. As they decompose, the change brings an awakening in the Spring, the new earth and a promise of life forever!
I loved this song. The Blind Pig always expresses the meaning of their words and music to me.
How did the singin’ go last night?
Thanks Tipper, enjoyed this post this morning…
Can you believe this heat wave…only to warm up and snow this week I hear!
Nice job! I can hear that this could definitely be a healing song as well as very relaxing. Great sharing as I was not familiar with it!
Great job on a beautiful song! Always has been one of my favorites.
Wow, awesome job on that old song. I’ve always loved it and your family do it so beautiful. Thanks for sharing this on this beautiful Sunday morning.
We do this tune frequently in our jam sessions here around East Texas. Good song.
Tipper, after reading Blind Pig this morning I feel I need to share an experience I had this past Wednesday. A dear friend of my wife Donna and I lost her 29 year old daughter-in-law to a sudden brain anurisym. Becky Hathcock was a mother of 5 year old Ava and wife of Chris Hathcock. A beautiful young educated girl who was enjoying starting her family and life as we all at one time or another dream of.
When this terrible aneurysm occurred 10 days ago Becky was rushed to Dallas where her family members immediately followed. Becky did not recover however as she lay unconscious surrounded by family members she spoke seven (7) just seven last words that are etched in stone in her family’s mind. She spoke “I am awake on the other side.” Her older sister passed this along during Becky’s eulogy. How comforting to feel there is an afterlife and she is there. I was raised attending church and still attend. I just felt this little message might comfort those who remain with doubt.
Beautiful, Tipper, a fine start to a Sunday morning. Thank you!
Very pretty! Never heard it before.
Nice video. I like the alternate lyrics…vs. grandpa jones. Also like the neat turnaround…never heard it played like that…
Tipper. I sang Fallen Leaves for a church in Mo. They loved it. Grandpa Jones writing this he could have been just a song writer along if he chose too. They had never heard the song and wanted to learn it. I think of leaves as a good ground cover on the ground; like new carpet very good mulch.I would go squirrel hunting with Dad when I was a small tyke and I recall Dad saying now Moo step light and don’t Russel the leaves and scare off the squirrels.
Just Beautiful!
Excellent job on that one, great harmony singing and love Paul’s picking.
Enjoyed listening to the video, but missed the little fiddle player. Such a talented family.
Fantastic job… I love this ole song, we actually sing it at Church occasionally.. The Primitive Quartet has a version of it, that’s good..