THE CHESTNUT TREE

(Hamilton Kennedy, Tommie Connor, Jimmy Kennedy)


Jack Hylton & His Orchetra
V. Sam Browne
Recorded 2nd December 1938

Also recorded by:
Glenn Miller Orchestra, V. Marion Hutton
Lawrence Welk Orchestra
Ambrose Orchestra
Joe Loss Orchestra
Oscar Rabin, V. Al Bowlly………..
……..and many others.



She was a blacksmith’s daughter
I was the village swain
We never did our courting
Down any old country lane

But, underneath the spreading chestnut tree
I loved her and she loved me
There she used to sit upon my knee
‘Neath the spreading chestnut tree

There beneath the boughs we used to meet
All her kisses were so sweet
All the little birds went tweet, tweet, tweet
‘Neath the spreading chestnut tree

I said I love you, 
And there ain’t no ifs or buts
She said I love you
And the blacksmith shouted “Chestnuts”

Underneath the spreading chestnut tree
There she said she’d marry me
Now you ought to see our family
‘Neath the spreading chestnut tree.

(Musical Break)

Under the spreading chestnut (knock)
Famous men made history
What did Gladstone sing in ninety-three
‘Neath the spreading chest (knock knock)

There beneath the boughs make no mistake
Good Queen Bess play darts with Drake
Watching Alfred burn the birthday cakes
‘Neath the spreading  (knock, knock, knock)

That tree was planted
When the natives lived in huts
They were enchanted
When they found the fruit was chestnuts

Under the spread (knock, knock, knock, knock)
They devoured those nuts with glee
Hence the invention of bicarbonate of soda
'Neath(knock, knock, knock, knock, knock, knock)




(Transcribed from John Wright’s 78 RPM 
Record Collection by Bill Huntley - December 2013)