Chant of the Plains (I Need You)
(Bob Nolan)
All through the prairie I wander.
Night falls and I long for you.
Everything here in God’s Garden
Shares my longing, too.
Refrain:
Listen to the prairie weave a song from a wail,
Listen to him blend it with the nightingale,
Wingin’ up above where the dark clouds sail and fly.
I need you.
Listen to the rhythm of the padded feet,
Stealin’ through the desert, hear his wild heart beat,
Searchin’ for his love and my heart repeats his cry,
I need you.
Far in the distance hear that note
It’s born of a call in a savage throat
Who waits a mate’s reply.
Listen to the moanin’ of the wind on its way,
Everything he touches, see it bend and sway,
Seem to pledge a love and send him on his way, that’s why
I need you.
Note: In the transcription, the following verse was added and does not appear in the song folio:
Each livin’ thing bows in sadness
Flowers of crimson and blue
They need the sunshine for smilin’
Darlin’, I need you.
"Chant of the Plains" is one of Bob Nolan's loveliest evocative compositions, never recorded commercially until 1960 for RCA. Although many Sons of the Pioneers' fans object to the French horn in their later recordings, it is beautifully apparent that it is necessary in this one to depict the vastness and loneliness of the desert. All previous arrangements - the radio transcriptions for Standard in 1935, Rex Allen shows, Smokey the Bear and the Lucky U program - did nothing for the song. One transcription made for the 10-2-4 Ranch show is the exception. Featuring Martha Mears, we hear the actual melody in this recording. For some reason, they neglected to record it for their Orthacoustic "Symphonies of the Sage".
"Chant of the Plains" was published in "Songs of the Prairie Folio No. 3", 1937 01 09 Cross & Winge. Photocopies of sheet music for this song are available from Calin Coburn, Bob Nolan's grandson. Email Calin for more details.
