# The Trail of the Lonesome Pine (song)

"The Trail of the Lonesome Pine" is a popular song published in 1913, with lyrics by Ballard MacDonald and music by Harry Carroll. It was inspired by John Fox Jr.'s 1908 novel of the same title, but whereas the novel was set in the Cumberland Mountains of Kentucky, the song refers to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. In it, the singer expresses his love for his girl, June, who is waiting for him under the titular pine tree. It was performed by Laurel and Hardy in the 1937 film Way Out West and this version became a UK Singles Chart hit in 1975, some years after both actors had died.

## History

It was recorded by Henry Burr and Albert Campbell on March 4, 1913, and was successful in America. Elsie Baker and James F. Harrison's version also sold well in the same year. The song is featured in the stage play The Trail Of The Lonesome Pine, and is played during the opening credits of the 1936 film adaptation.
The song was featured in Laurel and Hardy's 1937 film Way Out West. It was performed by Laurel and Hardy with The Avalon Boys and featured a section sung in deep bass by Chill Wills, lip-synced by Stan Laurel in the film, with the last two lines in soprano (sung by Rosina Lawrence) after Ollie hits Stan on the head with a mallet. This stage routine is performed by actors Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly as part of the 2019 biographical film Stan & Ollie.
In 1975, at a time when Laurel and Hardy films were popular on British television, the UK branch of United Artists Records produced an album of dialogue and songs, Laurel & Hardy – The Golden Age Of Hollywood Comedy, which included "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine". The song was released as a single and reached No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart, thanks largely to being championed by disc jockey John Peel on his Radio 1 evening show. The song was also recorded by Vivian Stanshall the same year and was covered by Stanshall in a Peel session of October 1975.
In 1983 it was also recorded (as "Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia") by Tokyo Blade.
"The Trail of the Lonesome Pine" was an inspiration in the work of Gertrude Stein.
The song's melody and chorus has also been used for an American square dance in the "singing square" style, in which the dance caller's instructions are fitted to the melody and the dancers sometimes sing along on the chorus as they return to place at the end of each repetition of the group dance figure.

## Lyrics

The song refers to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. The singer expresses his love for his girl, June, who is waiting for him under the titular pine tree.
    Verse 1
   On a mountain in Virginia
   Stands a lonesome pine Just below is the cabin home Of a little girl of mine Her name is June, and very, very soon She’ll belong to me For I know she’s waiting there for me ‘Neath that lone pine tree
    Chorus
   In the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia On the trail of the lonesome pine In the pale moonshine our hearts entwine Where she carved her name and I carved mine Oh, June, like the mountains I’m blue Like the pine I am lonesome for you In the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia On the trail of the lonesome pine
    Verse 2
   I can hear the tinkling waterfall Far among the hills Bluebirds sing each so merrily To his mate in rapture trills They seem to say, “Your June is lonesome, too” Longing fills her eyes She is waiting for you patiently Where the pine tree sighs