The Ozark Mountain Da… Read Full Bio ↴Alternative tag The Ozark Mountain Daredevils.
The Ozark Mountain Daredevils started in 1971 in Springfield, Missouri in an attempt by the singer/songwriter members to have a vehicle in which to display and promote their music. At first, they played in bars and on porches. However, a record executive from A&M records discovered the band, and they began their recording path.
The original members of the band consisted of:
John Dillion - (vocals, guitars, mandolin, fiddle, piano, harp, autoharp, dulcimer, jawbone, percussion, keyboards)
Mike "Supe" Granda - (vocals, bass, acoustic guitar, mandolin, percussion, chicken squawks)
Buddy Brayfield - (vocals, oboe, piano, harpsichord, organ, percussion, electric piano)
Randle Chowning - (vocals, lead electric & acoustic guitars, harp, national steel, mandolin)
Steve Cash - (vocals, harp, percussion, harpsichord)
Larry Lee - (vocals, drums, acoustic guitar, synthesizer, piano, percussion, saw, saw & board)
The Daredevils peaked commercially in 1973-1974 and were best known for "Jackie Blue" and "If You Wanna Get To Heaven", which both got national coverage. However, there was a wide range of music that the Daredevils produced that was widely missed. The influences of the locale and the talents of the band members produced some unique sounds that could be related to "rockabilly" influences. There was also a good body of music that could be classified as country, rock, ballads, folk or blues.
The band changed throughout the years, but played prevantly throughout the '70s and gained and lost members during that time. To this day, there is still a loyal and avid fan following. There are discs still being released by the group, mostly of past performances in the '70s. In addition, many of the members are currently still working on other interests including Randle Chowning, Larry Lee ("Beyond Reach") Mike "Supe" Granda, and possibly others.
A reunion concert was held in Springfield, Missouri at the refurbished Gilloiz Theatre, in May of 2007. The three nights they performed were entirely sold out, weeks in advance of the concert.
The Red Plum
Ozark Mountain Daredevils Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The blacksmith dreams of a queen
The cobbler dreams of a gold ring
The cobbler dreams of a ring
And weeds grow wild on the village green
The red plum rots on the ground
And she lays there with a bright gold ring
And a pure white ivory crown
The wheelwright dreams of a jewel'd case
The wheelwright dreams of a case
The drover dreams of the queen's lace
The drover dreams of the lace
And weeds grow wild on the village green
The red plum rots on the ground
And she lays there with a bright jewel'd case
In a full length white lace gown
The crier dreams of a queen's face
The crier dreams of a face
The fletcher dreams of a royal place
The fletcher dreams of a place
And no one goes where the weeds bend deep
When the snow falls down on the town
And she lays there in a dreamless sleep
And the red plum can't be found
The song "The Red Plum" by Ozark Mountain Daredevils is a poetic reflection on the dreams and aspirations of various individuals in a village, contrasted with the decaying reality of the red plum on the ground. The blacksmith, cobbler, wheelwright, drover, crier, and fletcher all have their own dreams, represented by their yearning for a white queen, gold ring, jeweled case, queen's lace, queen's face, and royal place respectively. Meanwhile, the village green is overrun with weeds, and the red plum, once a symbol of hope, is now rotting away on the ground.
The woman in the white ivory crown and full-length white lace gown, who seems to embody the ultimate dream of the villagers, is lying next to the red plum, with a bright gold ring and a jeweled case, yet she is in a dreamless sleep. The harsh reality of the village and the decay of the red plum seem to offer a commentary on the futility of these dreams and the fleeting nature of dreams themselves, even those that seem so grand and inspiring.
Overall, "The Red Plum" is a poignant reflection on the human tendency to dream and aspire towards grandiose desires, even when the reality of the world around us can be bleak and disappointing. The red plum serves as a symbol of hope and potential, even in the face of decay and neglect.
Line by Line Meaning
The blacksmith dreams of a white queen
The blacksmith fantasizes about a queen who possesses purity, innocence, and nobility
The cobbler dreams of a gold ring
The cobbler desires a ring studded with gold as a symbol of his wealth and prestige
And weeds grow wild on the village green
The village is unkempt and neglected with no one taking care of it
The red plum rots on the ground
The fruit has fallen off the tree and is now decaying on the ground
And she lays there with a bright gold ring
The woman's corpse is adorned with a shiny and valuable ring
And a pure white ivory crown
The deceased woman wears a headpiece made of ivory - a symbol of prestige and honor
The wheelwright dreams of a jewel'd case
The wheelwright longs for a decorated container that would symbolize his artistic skills and creativity
The drover dreams of the queen's lace
The drover likes to picture the queen wearing delicate, feminine needlework made of lace
And she lays there with a bright jewel'd case
The corpse holds a container embellished with precious stones and gems
In a full length white lace gown
The woman wears a long, elaborate dress made of delicate fabric, which adds to her grace and beauty
The crier dreams of a queen's face
The town crier imagines an image of the queen's beauty and calm demeanor
The fletcher dreams of a royal place
The fletcher visualizes a place where the king and queen live, surrounded by luxury and extravagance
And no one goes where the weeds bend deep
An area of the village is so overgrown with weeds and plants that no one dares to go there
When the snow falls down on the town
During winter, the village is covered with snow and ice, which further adds to its cold, uninviting atmosphere
And she lays there in a dreamless sleep
The dead woman's sleep is peaceful, and she is not tormented by nightmares or fears
And the red plum can't be found
The fruit that was once there is now gone, possibly taken by animals or decayed beyond identification
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN DILLON, STEVE CASH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Three Cedars Homestead
My favorite band during the 70's
I always loved the "RenFair" vibe of this song