Ives began his career as an itinerant singer and guitarist, eventually launching his own radio show, The Wayfaring Stranger, which popularized traditional folk songs. In 1942, he appeared in Irving Berlin's This Is the Army and became a major star of CBS Radio. In the 1960s, he successfully crossed over into country music, recording hits such as "A Little Bitty Tear" and "Funny Way of Laughin'". Ives was also a popular film actor through the late 1940s and '50s. His film roles included parts in So Dear to My Heart (1948) and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), as well as the role of Rufus Hannassey in The Big Country (1958), for which he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Ives is often associated with the Christmas season. He did voice-over work as Sam the Snowman, narrator of the classic 1964 Christmas television special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Ives also worked on the special's soundtrack, including the songs "A Holly Jolly Christmas" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", both of which continue to chart annually on the Billboard holiday charts into the 2020s.
Turtle Dove
Burl Ives Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Turtle dove done drooped his wings
Turtle dove done drooped his wings
Turtle dove done drooped his wings
Went on Zion's hill to sing
Chorus
Adam and Eve, don't tell it to me
Meet me at the door, don't tell it to me
There's sasalado on solasaree
My name is written on David's line
My name is written on David's line
My name is written on David's line
I'm going to heaven on the wheel of time
[chorus]
When I get to heaven I know the rules
When I get to heaven I know the rules
When I get to heaven I know the rules
I keep on down to the bathing pool
[chorus]
Turtle dove done drooped his wings
Turtle dove done drooped his wings
Turtle dove done drooped his wings
Went on Zion's hill to sing
[chorus]
The lyrics to Burl Ives's song "Turtle Dove" present a story that combines elements of Christianity and African American folklore. The song begins with a description of a turtle dove who has "drooped his wings" and gone to sing on Zion's hill. This verse may be interpreted as a metaphor for a person who has passed away and gone to heaven (Zion). The chorus then introduces the characters of Adam and Eve, but the singer refuses to hear their story and instead invites them to meet him at the door. The lyrics "sasalado on solasaree" are difficult to interpret, but are likely African American vernacular or nonsense words that rhyme with the previous line.
The second verse suggests that the singer's name is written on David's line, likely referring to the Book of Psalms in the Bible, which is attributed to King David. The singer states that they are going to heaven on the "wheel of time," a symbol that may represent the cyclical nature of life and death. The chorus repeats, with the singer refusing to hear the story of Adam and Eve and instead inviting them to meet him at the door.
The final verse suggests that the singer is confident in their knowledge of the rules of heaven and plans to go to the "bathing pool." This may refer to the biblical concept of baptism or to the idea of cleansing in preparation for entering heaven. The song ends with a repetition of the first verse, emphasizing the turtle dove's journey to Zion and the ongoing symbolism of death and rebirth.
Line by Line Meaning
Turtle dove done drooped his wings
The turtle dove has become sad and lost its energy
Turtle dove done drooped his wings
The turtle dove has become sad and lost its energy
Turtle dove done drooped his wings
The turtle dove has become sad and lost its energy
Went on Zion's hill to sing
The turtle dove goes to a place of religious significance to express itself musically
Chorus
Recurring refrain
Adam and Eve, no, no
I don't want to hear about Adam and Eve
Adam and Eve, don't tell it to me
I don't want to hear about Adam and Eve
Meet me at the door, don't tell it to me
Let's not discuss Adam and Eve, just meet me at the door
There's sasalado on solasaree
A nonsensical phrase used for its musicality
My name is written on David's line
I believe I am destined for great things, like King David
My name is written on David's line
I believe I am destined for great things, like King David
My name is written on David's line
I believe I am destined for great things, like King David
I'm going to heaven on the wheel of time
I believe I will eventually reach heaven, guided by the passage of time
[chorus]
Recurring refrain
When I get to heaven I know the rules
I am confident that I will know how to behave in heaven when I die
When I get to heaven I know the rules
I am confident that I will know how to behave in heaven when I die
When I get to heaven I know the rules
I am confident that I will know how to behave in heaven when I die
I keep on down to the bathing pool
I have a plan for leisurely activities in heaven
[chorus]
Recurring refrain
Turtle dove done drooped his wings
The turtle dove has become sad and lost its energy
Turtle dove done drooped his wings
The turtle dove has become sad and lost its energy
Turtle dove done drooped his wings
The turtle dove has become sad and lost its energy
Went on Zion's hill to sing
The turtle dove goes to a place of religious significance to express itself musically
[chorus]
Recurring refrain
Contributed by Sydney I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@njva17420
I haven't heard this song since I was a kid. My family had bought this record so many years ago. For some reason Burl's great singing of this song came to me in the middle of the night.
@fiveanddimer
As a boy I owned this album, along with many other Ives albums. That was over 50 years ago.
@killgreed5943
Thank you, for the upload, I have this also!
@killgreed5943
l
Still awesome!
@bettro96
i appreciate that you uploaded it with the record grain. that's literally my favorite noise ever--it makes these songs 100% better
@Jambo4110
I am forever UNgrateful to the Beatles who helped to eclipse this great American. The US never produced a finer singer.