A Heart-Felt Ode To ‘The Last Leaf On The Tree’

A Brief Commentary by Niagara At Large reporter/publisher Doug Draper

Posted November 3^rd, 2024 on Niagara At Large

“I’m the last leaf on the tree
The autumn took the rest
But it won’t take me
I’m the last leaf on the tree

“When the autumn wind blows
They’re already gone
They flutter to the ground
They just can’t hang on”
– lyrics from a new song called ‘The Leaf’ by Willie Nelson

I have always been a spring and summer person.

The last leaf on the silver maple tree in my front yard that has a habit of being one on the first trees to sprout its buds in the spring and one of the first to drop its leaves in the fall.

Having said that, I admit that fall or autumn, as many prefer to call it, is a beautiful time of the year when leaves start turning various shades of red and yellow. But that only lasts a few short weeks before the leaves wither and die, then fall from the trees when the first chilly winds before winter blow.

Then, as morbid as it may sound, I can’t get the idea of dying out of my mind as my thoughts turn to so many friends and relatives others I came to know in my life who have passed on.

In that spirit, just this past week I discovered what for me is a perfect song for this time of year, written and performed by legendary singer/songwriter Willie Nelson.

Now 91 and with a voice sounding resolute but frail, I can imagine Willie thinking of all the musical friends that have passed before him, from Ray Charles, Roy Orbison and B.B. King to fellow ‘Highwaymen , Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and  Kris Kristofferson, when he wrote this song.

To hear it, click on the screen immediately below –

One of the trails in the St. John’s Conservation Area located in the Short Hills in Pelham

And by the way, take time to walk a few trails and enjoy what is left of the autumn colours while you can. Maybe we will cross paths along the way.

• Doug Draper, Niagara At Large, with lasting respect for Willie Nelson who endorsed U.S. presidential candidate Kamala Harris and performed at one of her campaign rallies. I hope that, as he writes in this song, he will still be here when the trees grow green again in the spring. 

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