There is a time for love and laughter
The days will pass like summer storms
The winter wind will follow after
But there is love and love is warm
There is a time for us to wander
When time is young and so are we
The woods are greener over yonder
The path is new the world is free
There is a time when leaves are falling
The woods are grey the paths are old
The snow will come when geese are calling
We need a fire against the cold
There is a time for us to wander
When time is young and so are we
The woods are greener over yonder
The path is new the world is free
There is a time for us to wander
When time is young and so are we
The woods are greener over yonder
The path is new the world is free
The path is new the world is free
———————-
The words above are to an old Dillard’s song, There Is A Time. I tried to figure out if one of them wrote it or if it was a traditional song, but I had no luck finding the answer to my question. The song is most often associated with The Andy Griffith Show. The Dillards played the Darlings who were known for their music making among other things.
The girls have been doing There Is A Time since they first started singing. They’ve done the song for so long that there have been numerous versions and arrangements over the years.
When they first started singing they both sang lead, once they learned the art of harmony from Pap and Paul I fell in love with the song anew. A few years later Chitter learned to play it on the mandolin and that impressed me. A year or so after that she mastered it on the fiddle. Soon after I got over the fiddle sawing I fell in love with how they said the word greener. Next it was Chitter saying We need a fire against the cold.
Today my favorite part of the song is a little guitar lick that Paul has added. Give me another year and I’m sure my favorite part of the song will change once again.
Tipper
Hey , Tipper, yes I talked with Rodney some years back and he had told me that he and Mitch had written this song.
In the words of Charlene Darling “this’un makes me cry”. What a beautiful, poignant version by Chitter and Chatter. Wonderful harmony, great pickin’. Love it.
This is my favorite of all the songs the girls do, amply supported by their talented Uncle Paul and some shrinking violet who is always hiding in the background. I also love the lyrics, which are so meaningful and so true to life.
Jim
Busy Sunday and I didn’t get to access/listen to “Greener Over Yonder” until Monday morning–but loved it. I think we go through a definite stage in life when pastures “look greener over yonder”–wherever we aren’t and long to be to see for ourselves. Sometimes (and often) after we explore what we thought were “greener pastures” we want to return to the old, tried and familiar that have taken on a new and inviting “greener” sheen when we wandered away. And that’s all a part of home–and what it means to us, even after going away for awhile.
Love it!
Actually Rodney Dillard and Mitch Jayne are both listed as the songwriters on this song.
This is probably my favorite Pressley Girls song, based on the small selection I’ve heard so far.
This is a delightful experience of Appalachian music! These musicians take me back to family ” fiddlen” on the porch on Sunday aftenoons. Wonderful!
Bravo,, Bravo.. Awesome job…
Tipper,
Loved this post today! I always loved this song and the harmony makes it wonderful…
Thanks to all for sharing your gifts, your wonderful musical talents….
Tipper,
I love this song by Chitter and Chatter and Paul. I guess I’m prejudiced, but I seem to like Chitter and Chatter’s version better than the Darlings. The Girls have many good songs and I’ve tried to get Donna Lynn to play a few of them on our local Christian Radio Station. She told me she’d get into trouble unless it’s Gospel songs.
Good luck over in Hayesville this evening. Don’t get too hot! I remember Pap getting sick from the heat one time at Western Carolina University…Ken
We love this song and we LOVE the Pressley Girls. Actually, we love ALL the BP musicians!
Don’t cut yourself short. The bass is line is an integral part of any song but in this one it makes the song. As I often say, it is the heartbeat of a song. You (you all, y’all, yunze, youenz) have three bright sounding instruments and three bright sounding voices. The bass brings it all back down to the ground. I would give you a pat on the back but I can’t reach passed Peachtree.
Ask Paul if I used passed correctly in the previous sentence or should it be past.
This a great song, the girls sound wonderful. Thanks for posting, Tipper.
I see why you love it so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love it!
Thanks for a great Snday morning song. You are really doing fantastic with the photography, especially the collage above. Happy day to all!
Great job, I can close my eyes and I see two Charlenes and Sheriff Taylor, all you need now is Denver Pyle playing the Jug. Though the Dillards didn’t make that many appearances they were an integral part of the show.
I love that song! It wouldn’t have rhymed the way my family said yonder. Mom often changed the pronunciation of words with an O to an A. Yander, seniarity and priarity are a few words that comes to mind.
I feel like I have lived this song. Certainly in my youth and through middle age I roamed the woods always looking forward to what I might find ‘over yonder’. Now increasingly I’m looking toward another yonder where I hope there are greener woods.
Maybe the reason that song stays with you is because it fits all stages of life. It has a tug in it.
I love the harmony, they are getting better and better!
https://youtu.be/ZPVof8iSaKM
Mitch Jayne of the original Dillard’s wrote it. I think this is a link to where they talk about it after his passing.
Great! I like this song since I listened your first Version.