Under the Spreading Chestnut Tree

I shared an image of the full canopy of this blooming Chestnut tree at Crocker Park the other day.  Immediately after taking that image, I moved around to a familiar spot and set about composing this shot of Abbot Hall against a perfect May sunset from under the spreading Chestnut tree.  I couldn’t have asked for better light as I clicked the shutter and was thrilled with the final image showcasing the unique pyramidal flowers of the Chestnut tree against the familiar landmark of Abbot Hall.

Something about the term Chestnut tree triggered memories and I googled the phrase when I arrived home.  I quickly found that the term was used in George Orwell’s 1984:

Under the spreading chestnut tree
I sold you and you sold me
There lie they, and here lie we
Under the spreading chestnut tree

Which it turns out was a twist on a Glen Miller song:

Underneath the spreading chestnut tree
I loved him and he loved me
There I used to sit up on his knee
‘Neath the spreading chestnut tree

There beneath the boughs we used to meet
All his kisses were so sweet
All the little birdies went “tweet-tweet”
‘Neath the spreading chestnut tree

I said “I love you”, and there ain’t no if‘s or but’s
He said “I love you”, and the blacksmith shouted “Chestnut!”

Underneath the spreading chestnut tree
There he said he’d marry me
Now you oughta see our family
‘Neath the spreading chestnut tree!

And that was based on the original Longfellow version:

Under a spreading chestnut-tree
The village smithy stands;
The smith, a mighty man is he,
With large and sinewy hands;
And the muscles of his brawny arms
Are strong as iron bands.