Wildwood Flower Mandolin/Banjo Tab By The Carter Family
I have given two versions of this popular Carter Family song which Johnny Cash also covered. The first version is in C and the other version is in the slightly higher key of D Major. The banjo / mandolin chords are in the key of C Major. Wildwood flower guitar chords. The piano chords are in the sheet music plus the piano / mandolin letter notes.
WILDWOOD FLOWER
This famous mountain tune has long been a favorite of backwoods guitar pickers. When a guitar player graduates from using simple strums in accompanying songs and begins to explore the fascinating world of melody picking, "Wildwood Flower" is often the first song he tries. The tune is especially easy to pick out on the guitar in the key of C, because so many notes fall on open strings, strings fretted to form the chord, and neighboring frets. For those who wish to try, I am including in this section a simple arrangement in tablature.
The lyric of this song may seem a little soupy to some; apparently it struck Woody Guthrie that way, for he ignored the words altogether when he borrowed the tune for his World War II disaster ballad, "Reuben James."
Recordings: Joan Baez (Vanguard, VRS 9078); The Carter Family (Harmony, HL 7280); Eugene and Veronica Cox (Folkways, FA 2314); Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs (Columbia, CL 1664); Mickey Miller (Folkways, FA 2393); Artus Moser (Folk- ways, FA 2112); Tom Paley (Elektra, EKL 12); Obray Ramsey (Riverside, RLP 12 649). Variation: "Reuben James": Pete Seeger (Disc, D 101).
This famous mountain tune has long been a favorite of backwoods guitar pickers. When a guitar player graduates from using simple strums in accompanying songs and begins to explore the fascinating world of melody picking, "Wildwood Flower" is often the first song he tries. The tune is especially easy to pick out on the guitar in the key of C, because so many notes fall on open strings, strings fretted to form the chord, and neighboring frets. For those who wish to try, I am including in this section a simple arrangement in tablature.
The lyric of this song may seem a little soupy to some; apparently it struck Woody Guthrie that way, for he ignored the words altogether when he borrowed the tune for his World War II disaster ballad, "Reuben James."
Recordings: Joan Baez (Vanguard, VRS 9078); The Carter Family (Harmony, HL 7280); Eugene and Veronica Cox (Folkways, FA 2314); Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs (Columbia, CL 1664); Mickey Miller (Folkways, FA 2393); Artus Moser (Folk- ways, FA 2112); Tom Paley (Elektra, EKL 12); Obray Ramsey (Riverside, RLP 12 649). Variation: "Reuben James": Pete Seeger (Disc, D 101).
The 5 string banjo tab is in this ebook
wildwood flower guitar / mandolin chords
Wildwood flower sheet music mandolin tab with chords in D Major
Meaning of "Wildwood Flower""Wildwood Flower" is a classic American folk song with deep roots in Appalachian music. It was first written by Joseph Philbrick Webster in the 1860s, with lyrics by Maud Irving. The song has been performed by artists like The Carter Family, Johnny Cash, and Dolly Parton. Its simple yet haunting melody, combined with its melancholy lyrics, makes it a timeless piece.
Themes and Interpretation
Musical Style and Impact
Cultural and Emotional Significance
Themes and Interpretation
- Love and Heartache
- The song is primarily about unrequited love and the pain of longing. The narrator compares the woman he loves to the wildwood flower, a metaphor for something beautiful but unattainable.
- The "wildwood flower" itself represents both fragility and strength, as it grows in nature, untouched and wild, yet it is also out of reach.
- Loneliness and Regret
- The lyrics express deep regret and sorrow over the lost love. The singer feels that his love for the wildwood flower is unfulfilled because it’s not returned.
- Lines like “Oh, I wish that I were a wildwood flower” show a longing for something pure and untouchable, but also a sense of unavailability or hopelessness.
- The Pain of Separation
- There’s an emotional depth in the lyrics, where the narrator feels torn by the separation from the person he loves. The refrain “And I’ll never forget you, wildwood flower” highlights the enduring memory of the loved one and the pain of being left behind.
Musical Style and Impact
- The song is often performed with gentle guitar or banjo accompaniment, with a simple, melancholic melody.
- It's a staple in Appalachian folk music, representing themes of heartbreak and longing while being closely associated with the Carter Family, who gave the song widespread popularity.
- Its legacy has continued through various country and folk artists, who have covered it in their own styles.
Cultural and Emotional Significance
- "Wildwood Flower" has been reinterpreted by many generations as a song about unrequited love and the complex emotions of yearning and loss.
- It’s often used in bluegrass, folk, and country music to evoke a nostalgic sense of heartache and longing, making it a classic song of the Appalachian tradition.
Wildwood flower piano / banjo / mandolin letter notes
Here's the banjo / mandolin chords for Wildwood Flower In the key of C Major
