From My Woods, by Samuel A. Harper (1923) –
Click here for biographical information about Samuel Alain Harper.
Recording of a Wood Thrush:
According to All About Birds, “The Wood Thrush’s easily recognized, flute-like ee-oh-lay is actually only the middle phrase of a three-part song.” For more information, see here.

Chord chart:
C
C
I heard a
Bb
wood thrush in the
Dm
dusk
F
C
Twirl
Bb
three notes and make a
Dm
star —
F
C
My heart that
Bb
walked with bitterness
Dm
Came back from
Ab
very
far.
C
I heard a
Bb
wood thrush in the
Dm
dusk…
F
C
Eb
Bb
F
C
Eb
Bb
F
C
Three shining
Bb
notes were all he
Dm
had,
F
C
And yet they
Bb
made a starry
Dm
call —
F
C
I caught life
Bb
back against my breast
Dm
And kissed it,
Ab
scars and all.
C
I heard a wood
Bb
thrush in the
Dm
dusk…
F
C
Note: The Bb is barred on the sixth fret, the Ab on the fourth fret, the Eb on the sixth fret.
Publishing history:
- Poetry, A Magazine Of Verse, p. 126, June 1917
- Love Songs, by Sara Teasdale, p. 52, 1917
- My Woods, by Samuel A. Harper, p. 53, 1923
- The Kingsport Times (Kingsport, Tennessee), p. 6, March 12, 1928 – link
Music inspired by Wood Song:
Read about the composition here.
© 2021, Mark R. Adams. All rights reserved.