Red Wing (song)
Encyclopedia
"Red Wing" is a popular song written in 1907 with music by Kerry Mills
and lyrics by Thurland Chattaway
. Mills adapted the music from Robert Schumann
's composition for piano "The Happy Farmer, Returning From Work" from his 1848 work Album for the Young
, Opus 68. The song tells of a young Indian maid's loss of her sweetheart who has died in battle. It is most memorable for its chorus:
The song has been recorded numerous time in many different styles. It was parodied, in a version perpetuated among British
schoolchildren, which begins with the line, "The moon's shining down on Charlie Chaplin
." (See Iona and Peter Opie's The Lore and Language of Schoolchildren.) The original version was sung by John Wayne
and Lee Marvin
in the 1961 film The Comancheros
. In 1950 Oscar Brand
recorded a bawdy version in his Bawdy Songs & Backroom Ballads, Volume 3.
Kerry Mills
Kerry Mills was an American composer of popular music during the Tin Pan Alley era. His stylistically diverse music ranged from ragtime to cakewalk to marches. He was most prolific between 1895 and 1918....
and lyrics by Thurland Chattaway
Thurland Chattaway
Thurland Chattaway was a popular music composer, active from approximately 1898 to 1912. Most famous for writing the words to the popular hit "Red Wing". Other songs include "Little Black Me" and "Can't You Take It Back and Change It For a Boy"....
. Mills adapted the music from Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann, sometimes known as Robert Alexander Schumann, was a German composer, aesthete and influential music critic. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most representative composers of the Romantic era....
's composition for piano "The Happy Farmer, Returning From Work" from his 1848 work Album for the Young
Album für die Jugend
Album for the Young , Op. 68, was composed by Robert Schumann in 1848 for his three daughters. The album consists of a collection of 43 short works. Unlike the Kinderszenen, they are suitable to be played by children or beginners. The second part, starting at Nr...
, Opus 68. The song tells of a young Indian maid's loss of her sweetheart who has died in battle. It is most memorable for its chorus:
- Now the moon shines tonight on pretty Red Wing,
- The breeze is sighing, the night bird's crying,
- For afar 'neath his star her brave is sleeping,in later versions usually: "For a far far away her brave is dying"
- While Red Wing's weeping her heart away.
The song has been recorded numerous time in many different styles. It was parodied, in a version perpetuated among British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
schoolchildren, which begins with the line, "The moon's shining down on Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
." (See Iona and Peter Opie's The Lore and Language of Schoolchildren.) The original version was sung by John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
and Lee Marvin
Lee Marvin
Lee Marvin was an American film actor. Known for his gravelly voice, white hair and 6' 2" stature, Marvin at first did supporting roles, mostly villains, soldiers and other hardboiled characters, but after winning an Academy Award for Best Actor for his dual roles in Cat Ballou , he landed more...
in the 1961 film The Comancheros
The Comancheros
The Comancheros is a 1961 western Deluxe CinemaScope color film directed by Michael Curtiz and John Wayne based on a 1952 novel by Paul Wellman starring John Wayne and Stuart Whitman. When health troubles prevented Curtiz from finishing the film, Wayne directed the remainder of the movie, though...
. In 1950 Oscar Brand
Oscar Brand
Oscar Brand is a folk singer, songwriter, and author. In his career, spanning over 60 years, he has composed at least 300 songs and released nearly 100 albums, among them Canadian and American patriotic songs...
recorded a bawdy version in his Bawdy Songs & Backroom Ballads, Volume 3.
External links
- "Red Wing", Frederick H. Potter with the Edison Male Quartette (Edison Gold MouldedEdison RecordsEdison Records was one of the earliest record labels which pioneered recorded sound and was an important player in the early recording industry.- Early phonographs before commercial mass produced records :...
9622, 1907)—Cylinder Preservation and Digitization Project. - "Red Wing" (Sheet music)"—The Charles H. Templeton, Sr. Sheet Music Collection, Mississippi State University.