Hickory Wind - From Where Dost Thou Blow

Many of you may wonder (or perhaps not) why I named this blog Hickory Wind. I first became aware of the song "Hickory Wind" by Gram Parsons when I heard it on an album by The Byrds titled "Sweetheart Of The Rodeo" back in the seventies, one of my favorite Byrds albums. Parsons was with The Byrds at that time. The song spoke to me, I think because it was a lament about a hark back to the fond memories of where one grew up and the romantic memories of one's youth. As many who know me are aware, I do tend to "harken back" fairly often. I value the past perhaps more than I should but history and looking back has always fascinated me. 

That said, when we arrived on the hill here in Tennessee there were many tall Shagbark Hickory trees, not pine, although I planted a number of pine. The hickory trees have become a bane. They drop nuts profusely and the hulls litter the ground and driveway. The riding mower scoots and looses traction on them and they also shed small limbs and twigs it seems continuously. They are so big and tall and there are so many it would be a major expense and/or effort to drop them and have them removed or burned. I live with them - as do the squirrels - who seem to enjoy them much more than I do. 

Anyway, when we moved here this song came to mind and the small hunk of hilltop we live on was dubbed Hickory Wind. In turn there was a small hobby enterprise I dubbed Hickory Wind, and a newsletter I issued twice annually by the same name, and finally this blog. 

In the song Gram mentions the tall pine trees, also the oak tree he has fond memories of, but only alludes to hickory trees mentioning the wind I assume that blows through them.

The Hickory Wind in the song is or can be analogous to any place you grew up and considered home, i.e. in my case, Cahokia and the surrounding area. I guess it can also be where your heart is anchored and fond memories of a time past. 

Anyway, that's the story of my attachment to the name Hickory Wind. It's a beautiful, sort of mournful song and when I hear it I'm drawn back to Cahokia and my time growing up there. Cahokia and that area will always be home. 

As a side note, I personally know Phil Kaufman, the "Road Mangler" who was a road manager for Parsons and a number of bands who famously or infamously stole Gram parsons body and attempted to cremate it in Joshua Tree National Park in California. There was a movie made in 2003 that depicts that event entitled Grand Theft Parsons. Kaufman lives here in Nashville (also a Facebook friend). You can go to Wikipedia or do a search for Parsons, etc. to get the full story of Parsons, his short lived life and his impact on music.  

There were many popular versions of the song, Hickory Wind, other than the one by The Byrds, One was by Emmy Lou Harris. Even Kieth Richards of the Rolling Stones recorded it. Richards was a friend of Parsons. Here is a link to Gram and The Byryds version 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJKRA1ZIeiM

And a version I also like by a soulful Bluegrass singer, A J Lee. If you don't know of her you should. Enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXBXlJYKTNI&list=RDyXBXlJYKTNI 

                                                          "Hickory Wind"

In South Carolina
There are many tall pines
I remember the oak tree
That we used to climb
But it makes me feel better
Each time it begins
Callin' me home
Hickory Wind

I started out younger
At most everything
All the riches and pleasures
What else could life bring
But now when I'm lonesome
I always pretend
That I'm gettin' the feel of
Hickory Wind

It's a hard way to find out
That trouble is real
In a far away city
With a far away feel
But it makes me feel better
Each time it begins
Callin' me home
Hickory Wind
Keeps callin' me home
Hickory Wind