Published: 2011

Publisher: Lecta Music Publications

Duration: 3:13

Grade: 2

Difficulty: Easy

In 1861 Massachusetts’s songwriter, Henry S. Thompson (b. 1824-?), composed the song, “The Basket Maker’s Child”. The composer Charles Booker discovered this beautiful song in The Treasury of Song for the Home Circle (published in 1882) and in 2005 included it in a medley of folk tunes arranged for band entitled “Boston Mountain Overture” (published by Southern Music Company). This version is arranged for young band.

• Additional Information

  The verses read:

  Where the green willows swayed by the brook, and the sweet waters danced and smiled,

  In a cottage nestled in a quiet nook dwelt the basket-maker’s child.

  The green willows waved by the brook, the wind’ slow moan, the dry leaves shook,

  On the stilly night, by that murmuring brook, when they told me she must die.

  ‘Twas the holy Sabbath eve, the stars twinkled bright in the sky,

  the hills re-echoed the night bird’s song when they told me she must die.

  “Oh, weep not for me, she said, though death has dimmed my eye,

  My Savior’s hand is beneath my head and I do not fear to die.

  I go to my happy home, my work on earth is done,

  I hear my blessed Savior’s words, Let little children come.

  Let me rest by the side of the brook, where the sweet waters flow so mild,

  and carve on the tree where we used to play, the basket-maker’s child.”

  Where the green willows wave by the brook, and the sweet waters played and smiled,

  We laid her to rest, and we carved on the oak, the basket-maker’s child.