The Sons of the Pioneers are an American cowboy singing group founded in 19… Read Full Bio ↴The Sons of the Pioneers are an American cowboy singing group founded in 1933 by Leonard Slye (better known by his later screen name Roy Rogers), with Tim Spencer and Bob Nolan. They were soon joined by others including Karl Farr, Hugh Farr, Lloyd Perryman,and Pat Brady They remained popular into the 1950s. A group with the name is still in existence today (2003) and gives occasional concerts in Branson, Missouri and other spots. Although best known as an actor, Ken Curtis was a member of the Sons from 1949 until 1953.

The Sons of the Pioneers did several songs for the John Ford movies Wagon Master (in 1949) and Rio Grande in (1950).

The six members who made the Sons of the Pioneers famous in the late 1930s with their close-harmonied western style music were elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1980. In 1995, they were inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

In 1977, the Smithsonian designated the Sons of the Pioneers as "national treasures". Through many changes to the line-up, the Sons of the Pioneers have continued to perform.

Timber Trail
Sons Of The Pioneers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Timber, timber, timber,
Timber, timber, timber.

Oh, the mountains high, down the canyons wide
Let me roam and ride, ride thru timber
When the day is done, by the campfire's gleam
Let me lie and dream, dream of timber.

Tall timber's callin', and the echoes ring
All nature sings a song along the timber trail
Blue shadows fallin', down the canyon's vale
And the whispering pines entwine along the timber trail.

High in the sky above
The love song of the trees
Will blend and wend its way
Out on the breeze.

Tall timber's callin', and the echoes ring
All nature sings a song along the timber trail.

--- Instrumental ---

High in the sky above
The love song of the trees
Will blend and wend its way
Out on the breeze.

Tall timber's callin', and the echoes ring
All nature sings a song along the timber trail
Blue shadows fallin', down the canyon's vale
And the whispering pines entwine along the timber trail.

The timber trail, timber, timber,
Timber, timber, timber, timber.

Overall Meaning

The song "Timber Trail" by Sons of the Pioneers is an ode to the beauty and majesty of the wilderness, particularly the thick stands of trees that cover its mountains and canyons. The song paints a picture of someone who loves to roam and ride through the timber, finding solace and comfort in the sheltering branches of the trees, and dreaming of them by the fire at night. The refrain, "Timber, timber, timber," drives home the point that this person is completely enamored with the natural world, and finds something deeply meaningful and profound in the way that the trees seem to call to them.

The second verse emphasizes the way that the trees themselves create a sort of music, with the "love song of the trees" blending and bending its way out on the breeze. This is a particularly poetic image, suggesting that the very air itself is alive with sound and motion thanks to the endless rustling of leaves and swaying of branches. The final verse brings the song full-circle, with an instrumental in between reiterations of the refrain, emphasizing the call of the timber and the deep, abiding love that the singer has for the wilderness.

Line by Line Meaning

Timber, timber, timber,
Repeating the word 'timber' is like a chant or a call to action to explore and appreciate the beauty of the forest.

Oh, the mountains high, down the canyons wide
Expressing the awe-inspiring feeling of being surrounded by the grandeur of mountains and expansive canyons.

Let me roam and ride, ride thru timber
The desire to explore the forest on horseback and appreciate the beauty of tall trees.

When the day is done, by the campfire's gleam
After a long day of exploring, appreciating the warmth and peacefulness of a campfire by night.

Let me lie and dream, dream of timber.
The longing to fall asleep while dreaming of the beauty and serenity found in the forest.

Tall timber's callin', and the echoes ring
The majestic height of the trees beckons one to come closer and appreciate their beauty, while the echoes manifest their strength and grace.

All nature sings a song along the timber trail
The melody of the forest is like a song with every creature contributing to its beauty, echoing through the wilderness.

Blue shadows fallin', down the canyon's vale
The peaceful quiet of the canyon as it's consumed by the forest's blue shadows falling gently. The forest provides a sense of peace and serenity.

And the whispering pines entwine along the timber trail.
The slow wind whistling through the pines, telling a story while creating a pleasant and relaxing atmosphere.

High in the sky above, the love song of the trees
The wind carries the music of the forest high in the sky, producing an infinite repeat of natural sounds.

Will blend and wend its way, out on the breeze.
The sound of the forest moves and blends its way through the wilderness, carried by the gentle and soothing breeze.

The timber trail, timber, timber,
Repeating 'timber trail' with the word 'timber' is a reminder of the beauty of nature and the importance of exploring it, with the trail leading to adventures and discovery.

Contributed by Julian P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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