Tumbling Tumbleweeds

Roy Rogers, Bob Nolan

About Tumbling Tumbleweeds

"Tumbling Tumbleweeds" is a song composed by Bob Nolan. Although one of the most famous songs associated with the Sons of the Pioneers, the song was composed by Nolan in the 1930s, while working as a caddy and living in Los Angeles. Originally titled "Tumbling Leaves", the song was reworked into the title "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" and into fame with the 1935 Gene Autry film of the same name. Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time.  


Year:
2005
2:13
2,363 

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See them tumbling down,
Pledging their love to the ground!
Lonely, but free, I'll be found,
Drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds 

Cares of the past are behind,
Nowhere to go, but I'll find,
Just where the trail will wind,
Drifting along with the tumblin' tumbleweeds 

I know when night is gone,
That a new world's born at dawn!
I'll keep rolling along,
Deep in my heart as a song,
Here on the range I belong,
Drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds 

Tumbleweeds, tumbleweeds!
See them tumbling down,
Pledging their love to the ground! 
Lonely, but free, I'll be found,
Drifting along with the tumblin' tumbleweeds 

I know (I know!) when night is gone 
That a new world's born at dawn!
I'll keep rolling along,
Deep in my heart as a song,
Here on the range I belong,
Drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds 
Drifting along with the tumblin' tumbleweeds 
Tumbleweeds, tumbleweeds
Tumble weeds

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Bob Nolan

Bob Nolan (April 13, 1908 – June 16, 1980) was a Canadian-born American singer, songwriter, and actor. He was a founding member of the Sons of the Pioneers, and composer of numerous Country music and Western music songs, including the standards "Cool Water" and "Tumbling Tumbleweeds." He is generally regarded as one of the finest Western songwriters of all time. As an actor and singer he appeared in scores of Western films. more »

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Written by: BOB NOLAN

Lyrics © THE SONGWRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


8 facts about this song

Creation Facts
• "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" was written by Bob Nolan in the 1930s, originally under the title "Tumbling Leaves." • Nolan was inspired to pen this song after watching a dust storm in his hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Band Facts
• "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" was performed by the band The Sons of the Pioneers, which Bob Nolan co-founded. • The other founders of The Sons of the Pioneers include Leonard Slye (later known as Roy Rogers) and Tim Spencer.
Song Recognition
• "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" is known as one of the most famous songs to come out of the Western music genre. • In 1946, it was selected as one of the Top Western songs of all time by Western Writers of America.
Film Connection
• The song was featured in over a dozen movies, including a 1935 film named after the track, "Tumbling Tumbleweeds," starring Gene Autry. • It was also used in the 1998 movie "The Big Lebowski."
Preservation Status
• In 2010, "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" was one of 25 recordings selected by the Library of Congress to enter the National Recording Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." • The Library of Congress described the song as an "evergreen of American music."
Chart Performance
• In 1934, the song reached number one on the U.S. Country charts. • It has been covered by various artists like Marty Robbins, Bing Crosby, and Kate Smith, and these versions have also achieved chart success.
Lyrics and Theme
• The lyrics of "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" portray the romanticized life of a cowboy, who, like the tumbleweed, roams wherever the wind takes him. • The song is considered a prime example of Nolan's lyrical ability to combine natural elements with the Western lifestyle.
Song Legacy
• Often associated with the cowboy lifestyle, "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" continues to influence modern country and Western music. • The song is still performed live frequently by Western music bands and artists.

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