Darcy Farrow

Last updated
"Darcy Farrow"
Song by Steve Gillette and Tom Campbell
from the album Steve Gillette
Released1967
Genre Folk
Length3:35
Label Vanguard
Songwriter(s) Steve Gillette and Tom Campbell

Darcy Farrow is a song written by Steve Gillette and Tom Campbell, and first recorded in 1965 by Ian & Sylvia on their album, Early Morning Rain. Gillette released his first recording of it in 1967 on his eponymous album, Steve Gillette.

Contents

The song has been covered by more than 300 artists, including, most notably, John Denver, who recorded it three times and included the song in his live performances. It is included on the latest tribute album, The Music Is You: A Tribute To John Denver, released on April 2, 2013. [1]

Other major artists who recorded "Darcy Farrow" are Chesapeake, Jimmy Dale Gilmore, Nanci Griffith, George Hamilton IV, The Kingston Trio, Tony Rice, Josh Ritter, Linda Ronstadt, Ian Tyson (solo), and Matthews' Southern Comfort.

The song was written in 1964, inspired by something that happened to Gillette's little sister, Darcy, when she was 12. She was running behind her horse chasing it into the corral when she was kicked. She broke her cheekbone but had no lasting ill effects. Campbell took a melody that Gillette had written and came up with a story about two young lovers and a tragic fall. The place names are actual places around the region of the high valleys and the Walker River in Nevada, where Tom lived when he was eight or nine years old. [2]

Tracks on hit albums

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References

  1. "AllMusic.com album page" . Retrieved 2013-03-11.
  2. Gillette, Steve. "Darcy Farrow Lyrics". Steve Gillette & Cindy Mangsen website. Retrieved 2013-03-09.
  3. Ian & Sylvia charting albums Retrieved March 9, 2013.
  4. George Hamilton IV Folksy Retrieved March 10, 2013.
  5. John Denver Rocky Mountain High Retrieved March 9, 2013.
  6. "RPM Top 100 Albums - April 21, 1973" (PDF).
  7. John Denver The Wildlife Concert Retrieved March 9, 2013.
  8. John Denver The Best of John Denver Live Retrieved March 9, 2013. This album is an excerpt of The Wildlife Concert.
  9. Nanci Griffith Other Voices Too A Trip Back To Bountiful Retrieved March 9, 2013.
  10. Billboard 200 Week Ending 4/07/2013 Retrieved April 11, 2013.