Trees by Joyce Kilmer - Sung by Paul Robeson - 1939 - Victor Portable Victrola

Here is African American Singer & Actor Paul Robeson (1898-1976) Singing Trees composed by Joyce Kilmer & Oscar Rasbach, on a 1939 Victor black and gold label, 10" 78rpm record from 1939 recorded in Europe. The Victrola is a Victor Crank style Portable which I estimate to be from the 1930's. The Poem trees was written by .Alfred Joyce Kilmer (December 6, 1886 July 30, 1918) an American journalist, poet, literary critic, lecturer and editor. Though a prolific poet whose works celebrated the common beauty, most of his works are unknown, but a select few of his poems remain popular and are published frequently in anthologies. At the time of his deployment to Europe during the first World War (1914 - 1918), Kilmer was considered the leading American Catholic poet and lecturer of his generation. A sergeant in the 165th U.S. Infantry Regiment, he was killed at the Second Battle of Marne in 1918 at the age of 31.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Paul Robeson
• Joyce Kilmer
• Victor Victrola
• Victor Record
• 78rpm
• Black Americana
• Poem Trees

[natzbadfairy]

Hi, i'm looking far an instrumental version of this song for my grans funeral in a couple of days. anyone know where i can download it or if you have a version can you post it for me, it would be greatly appreciated. cheers xxx

[victrolaman]

@natzbadfairy I am not sure whether I have ever come across an instrumental version of this beautiful melody, created to blend so remarkably well with the original poem by Alfred Joyce Kilmer. Hopefully some other viewer, who has one will see your message. My deepest sympathies at the loss of your beloved Grandmother. Thank you for watching and best of luck finding an Instrumental version.

Victrolaman

[durr913]

This poem was in my mom/dad's 1940's Prose and Poetry school book and they had to memorize this poem..This is so awesome to find this in song..In memory of my parents...William Doak and Dorotha Wayne Ramsey...Love you and miss you..

[victrolaman]

@durr913 How wonderful, I am so happy that this youtube video and song could bring back memories of your beloved parents. Thank you for watching and thank you for taking the time to write the comment.

Victrolaman

[LtColumboLAPD]

This Victrola sounds amazing. Please let us know the model #.

Also, if you know, what are considered the top three best sounding portable Victrolas? Something tells me this would be in the top 3.

Thank you for sharing and letting us know how good these sound.

[victrolaman]

This is an RCA Victor Victrola Model 02 from about 1939-40, thus you have 1939 Electric Recording Technology for the record which is in near mint condition, combined with a very late crank type suitcase Victrola, to produce this fantastically amazing clear and precise sound . It doesn't get much better then this for an acoustic portable Victrola. As far as which portable Victrolas sound the best, maybe models 2-35 or 2-55 from the late orthophonic era.

[lskarin]

Wow. Thanks for the post and interposing the history. I knew Kilmer was a soldier. I didn't know he was an enlisted man nor his death in action.

Some think this song is sappy (no pun intended) but I am not among them. A tree is truly magnificent when you look at where the life goes on (just under the bark). And making this structure from water, carbon dioxide, and sunlight with a few minerals from the ground is a miracle.

[TheeSuperstar]

do you know who arranged this?

[KarenWoods1]

I have loved this version of the poem set to music for years : )

[daddio7777777]

Yes , Joyce and Paul, but poems are divine sparks out of the minds of visionaries. I shall qualify that ... Some poems. Your poetry and your voice, dear brothers, are sparks from a divine fountain of fire.

[philippeantool]

This is lovely... Thank you for posting this!

[rutgersmo]

FYI for all on who listen on this site.

Paul Robeson attended Rutgers University and graduated as Valdictorian, as well as earning letters in 4 sports. He was an All American football player at Rutgers and is still ranked in the top 100 players all time.

Joyce Kilmer , who wrote "Trees", also attended Rutgers before transfering to Columbia. Kilmer was killed in WWI and had a campus at Rutgers named in his honor.

[PraiseHolyTrinity]

Thank for posting this. It's beautiful! May God bless you abundantly. Let's build the kingdom of God. Glory to God in the highest!