Woodman, Spare That Tree ! by George Pope Morris
Woodman, Woodman, Spare That Tree! Irving Berlin lyrics
Woodman, Spare That $10 Tree (in New York City)!
 Dr. Capitalism - Capitalism Heals, Socialism Kills! Doctor Capitalism fights socialized medicine.

Dr. Capitalism's prescription is: Capitalism Heals, Socialism Kills!
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Woodman, Spare That Tree ! by George Pope Morris 1837
Woodman, Spare That Tree ! By Edward Bellamy 1873 Springfield Daily Union, July 7, 1873: 4, col. 6
Woodman, Woodman, Spare That Tree! Irving Berlin lyrics from the Broadway Show "Ziegfield Follies of 1911" (Irving Berlin / Vincent Bryan)
Woodman, Spare That $10 Tree (in New York City)! by Dr. Rex Curry


Media outlets misrepresent property rights and economic freedom.  The misrepresentations are sometimes intentional and other times result from ignorance of free market economics. The famous poem "Woodman, Spare That Tree" is an example. http://rexcurry.net/woodman.html

The poem (also used as lyrics in songs) tells the tale of how a man saved a tree from being cut down by a woodman.  The poem implies that the tree was saved by emotional pleas and even by an implied threat of violence against the woodman (similar to the modern environmental movement).

The libertarian historian Dr. Rex Curry has pointed out that the poetic plea omits the greatest truth about the actual event that inspired the poem: the tree was saved because the woodman was paid. The woodman was paid to not cut down the woodman's own tree on privately owned property.  The poem is often cited by Attorney Curry, an eco capitalist who is often consulted about tree ordinances and other violations of private property rights. http://rexcurry.net/trees.html

The poem was written in 1837 by George Pope Morris, a well-known journalist and poet who founded the New York Mirror in 1823 with Samuel Woodworth. In 1830, Morris wrote, he and another man were walking in Manhattan when they saw a tenant of a property preparing to cut down a "grand old elm" (the elm became an oak in the song) for firewood.  As the story goes, Morris and his companion talked to the woodman and negotiated to pay him $10 to let the tree stand.

Morris' poem misrepresented the event in other ways, in addition to omitting the pecuniary act that actually saved the tree.  If any of the parties present remembered the tree from childhood, then it wasn’t Morris. It it was more likely the anonymous woodman. And if any of the parties constituted the movement of people and development that removed trees from the landscape of Manhattan, it was Mr. Morris, founder of the New York Mirror, as much as the poor woodman.  

Morris claimed that the elm tree was still standing as late as 1862. However Morris' economic myopia might have blinded Morris from noticing whether the tenant used morris' $10 to start a new business, such as the Manhattan Firewood and Tree Clearing Corporation, which went on to make Manhattan a treeless wonderland, thanks to Morris' seed money. Morris was oblivious to the economic reality that the tenant presumably requested $10 in order to purchase an equal or greater amount of firewood from someone who presumably felled some other tree(s) somewhere else (say on the next block?).  In other words, Morris' act may have resulted in the death of one or more older, grander trees elsewhere.

Morris' histrionic misrepresentation has misled many environmentalists who act as if every tree is priceless, as implied in Morris' poem.  Yet Morris easily arrived at a price with the tenant and the price was only $10.  A better title for Morris' poem would be "Money talks and whining walks."  It proves the maxim "Capitalism heals. Socialism kills." http://rexcurry.net/doctor-capitalism-dr-capitalism-heals-socialism-kills.gif

Edward Bellamy, the notorious founder (1888) of National Socialism and Military Socialism in the United States used the stereotypically wrong spin on the poem in the article "Woodman, Spare That Tree!" in Bellamy's newspaper (Springfield Daily Union, July 7, 1873: 4, col. 6).

The poem was later set to music by different composers including Henry Russell (1837). Various examples of the melody can be found by searching the web.

To his credit, Irving Berlin, in comic fashion, restored a more accurate version of the story in the song "Woodman, Woodman, Spare That Tree!" from the Broadway Show "Ziegfield Follies of 1911" (Irving Berlin / Vincent Bryan).

Below are the lyrics to the Russel song. There are two alternate added stanzas authored by Dr. Curry. The first alternate stanza more completely describes the grand finale of free market environmentalism that saved the tree. The second alternate stanza describes the sad situation of what most people do today with tree ordinances and watering restrictions.  At the end is the Irving Berlin take on the original story.

Woodman, spare that tree!
Touch not a single bough!
In youth it sheltered me,
And I'll protect it now.
'Twas my forefather's hand
That placed it near his cot:
There, woodman, let it stand,
Thy axe shall harm it not!

That old familiar tree,
Whose glory and renown
Are spread o'er land and sea,
And wouldst thou hew it down?
Woodman, forbear thy stroke!
Cut not its earth-bound ties;
Oh, spare that aged oak,
Now towering to the skies!

When but an idle boy
I sought its grateful shade;
In all their gushing joy
Here too my sisters played.
My mother kissed me here;
My father pressed my hand --
Forgive this foolish tear,
But let that old oak stand!

My heart-strings round thee cling,
Close as thy bark, old friend!
Here shall the wild-bird sing,
And still thy branches bend.
Old tree! the storm still brave!
And, woodman, leave the spot:
While I've a hand to save,
Thy axe shall harm it not.

Here is the addendum that accurately describes what actually happened:

For woodman, see my hand,
ten dollars we agreed;
contracts are always grand
with private property.
both bill and tree are green,
and both are made of wood.
socialism is mean.
capitalism: good!

Here is the more likely modern addendum based on what people (especially those people inspired by Morris' misleading poem) actually do to each other today through tree ordinances, watering restrictions and other government action:

I rush to city hall
and socialists I'll find,
to steal your property
and treat it as mine.
We'll tell you what to do
with trees, water and all;
resistance will bring you
a costly vicious brawl!

****************
Irving Berlin's Lyrics -

[1st verse:]
A great big tree grows near our house
It's been there quite some time
This tree's a slipp'ry elm tree and very hard to climb
But when my wife starts after me, up in that tree I roost
I go up like a healthy squirrel and never need no boost
The other day a woodman came to chop the refuge down
And carve it into kindling wood, to peddle 'round the town
I says to him, "I pray thee cease, desist, refrain and stop
Lay down that razor, man, chop not a single chop"

[Refrain:]
Woodman, woodman, spare that tree
Touch not a single bough
For years it has protected me
And I'll protect it now
Chop down an oak, a birch or pine
But not this slipp'ry elm of mine
It's the only tree that my wife can't climb
So spare that tree

[2nd verse:]
I said to him, "You see that hole
Up near that old treetop
I've got five dollars there, that's yours, if you refrain to chop
No beast but me can climb that tree, 'cause it's too slippery
I can't get up myself, unless my wife is after me
So get my wife and I'll call her a very naughty word
And then you'll see me give an imitation of a bird
You may not know just where to go, when my wife gets around
But when she comes, remember this, if I'm not on the ground"

******************

EXPAND THE EVERGLADES  save it from the eco-disaster of socialism.
http://rexcurry.net/everglades.html

ECO - LIBERTARIANS - we wow a major newspaper re: state ecology.
http://rexcurry.net/sentinel.html

COLORFUL CAR TAGS laud private waterways and pan soggy socialism. save nature from socialism.  http://rexcurry.net/ecotags.html

LAWN WATERING LAWS - government creates water shortages and police state tactics.
http://rexcurry.net/waterlaws.html

BID TO BUY - reefs, beaches, lakes, rivers, gulf & ocean & Everglades areas, etc.,
http://rexcurry.net/quitclaim.html

FARMING SEA TURTLES - the U.S. destroys capitalism, destroys sea turtles
& exports socialism. http://rexcurry.net/ecoturtles.html

GOVERNMENT KILLS CONCHS - & kills the Conch Republic.
http://rexcurry.net/ecoconch.html

FARMING STINGRAYS: Cayman Islands could lead the way. http://rexcurry.net/cayman.html

SOCIALISM KILLS CRABS - your choice: stone crabs http://rexcurry.net/ecostonecrab.html  
or blue crabs  http://rexcurry.net/ecobluecrab.html

FARMING MANATEE - socialism & nature harms manatees.
http://rexcurry.net/manateefarm.html  and   http://rexcurry.net/manatee.html

FARMING CORAL REEFS  only property rights will save reefs from socialism.
http://rexcurry.net/reefs.html

FARMING SPONGES - real sponges must be saved from socialist sponges.
http://rexcurry.net/sponges.html

MALTHUSIAN THEORY - it is only in socialism's poverty and atrocities.
http://rexcurry.net/socialismmalthus.html

EXPOSING THE GREENS - they destroy the environment and enslave everyone.
http://rexcurry.net/greens.html

CAPITALIST ECOLOGY - all in popular graphic media for everyone everywhere.
http://rexcurry.net/ecoart.html

How capitalism has saved trees historically
http://rexcurry.net/woodman.html

How socialism has destroyed trees and other resources
http://rexcurry.net/comindex.html

Even more colorful artwork about capitalism saving the earth & mankind
http://rexcurry.net/ecoart.html

Tree laws kill trees
http://rexcurry.net/trees.html

New FL specialty car tag touts legalizing FL's state wildflower. http://rexcurry.net/tagflower2.JPG

copyright 2001, by Rex Curry
Attorney at Law
P.O. Box 8816
Tampa, FL 33674-8816
813-238-5371
FAX: 813-238-4462
rexy@ij.net
ecurry@interaccess.net


LIBERTARIAN ENVIRONMENTALISM, ECO CAPITALISM Dr. Capitalism http://rexcurry.net/tagturtle1a.jpg
& DR. CURRY, ENVIRONMENTALIST & LIBERTARIAN LAWYER

LIBERTARIAN ENVIRONMENTALIST, FREE MARKET ENVIRONMENTALISM Dr. Curry, Libertarian Environmentalist Pledge of Allegiance in frightening photos and articles at http://rexcurry.net/book1a1contents-pledge.html
For fascinating information about symbolism see http://rexcurry.net/book1a1contents-swastika.html 
Hear audio on worldwide radio at http://rexcurry.net/audio-rex-curry-podcast-radio.html

LIBERTARIAN ENVIRONMENTALISTS, Enviro-capitalists, Dr. Capitalism, FREE MARKET ENVIRONMENTALISM privatize waterways! Free Market Environmentalism & Capitalism

Eco-logical    Eco-nomics

LIBERTARIAN ENVIRONMENTALISTS Fish Farming & capitalism save the environment !


FARMING LIZARDS - in your own back yard.  they are easily domesticated.

FARMING WATER - don't conserve. remove government from water and support free markets.

LAWN WATERING NAZIS - learn the secret of FCSOPHPHELLMNGGGFCCCCCCCTVTP.

WATERMELONS ON THE INSIDE - oppose the Earth Charter Community Summit socialists.

HISTORICAL PRESERVATION - is hysterical perversion that harms history & freedom.

PROTECT PROPERTY RIGHTS - historical preservationists are neo-luddites.

SOCIALISTS DESTROY HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS - & hope you forget.

DEBATING A SOCIALIST ? - a rexwrite rewrite of a stereotypically socialist critique.


As a contender for the honorific title of "Top Libertarian Environmentalist," I spend a lot of time writing about libertarian environmentalism and how to speak to environmentalists. http://rexcurry.net/comindex.html

There is a lot of material available on the internet about eco-capitalism, and many books provide a lot of help, too.  

If you hear that all libertarians want to "sail the seas," listen again because you probably heard the maxim that all libertarians want to "sell the seas."

Libertarian environmentalists use the following phrases in a sincere positive manner: sell the oceans, sell the seas, sell the gulf, sell the lakes, sell the rivers, sell the parks, sell the Everglades http://rexcurry.net/everglades.html 

"We love manatee!" Eco-capitalists quip, "They taste just like chicken."  http://rexcurry.net/manateefarm.html  But the reasoning of free market environmentalism shines.

Cuba, eastern Europe, the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics,  The Peoples' Republic of China and other socialist messes have demonstrated that the Malthusian theory is manifested only in socialist economies. http://rexcurry.net/socialismmalthus.html   Any eco-capitalist can explain why.

Socialism is an environmental disaster.  Enviro-capitalism rocks!

Enviro-capitalists explain why the best environment is a capitalist environment.  The color of a healthy environment and the color of money are the same.  Mother Nature is a capitalist. Capitalists are the true greens.  

eco-capitalist
eco-capitalists
eco-capitalism

enviro-capitalist
enviro-capitalists
enviro-capitalism

free market environmentalist
free market environmentalists
free market environmentalism

libertarian environmentalist
libertarian environmentalists
libertarian environmentalism

                 ************************
Environmental socialists want to anthropologize for being human.

NYC's Central Park was a swamp, er, wetland, and no one is trying to restore IT.
Venice Italy was a swamp, er, marshland, and no one is trying to restore IT to it's natural state.

By 2020, the four most popular seafoods - shrimp, salmon, tilapia and catfish - will likely come from the aquaculture industry, and not from socialized saltwater , but from farms that are privately built and owned, according to industry analysts.

A Libertarian environmentalist once said "I am a team player - but I play for the other team!"

TREE LAWS KILL TREES http://rexcurry.net/trees.html
Pic http://rexcurry.net/rex-curry-opinion-editorials-opeds-americans-politics.jpg
opinion editorials tree laws kill trees rex curry


"Tree Laws Kill Trees" by Dr. Rex Curry is now in print in the book "Americans on Politics, Policy and Pop Culture."



The book includes the 101 Opinion Editorials from OpEds.com, compiled by Jason Wright and Aaron Lee, and edited by Courtney Marsh.



It is available at http://Amazon.com












Support Growth Management: Manage the growth of government. http://rexcurry.net/artlibertarian/yst_2.jpg Support Growth Management
Support Growth Management: Manage the Growth of Government. Growth Management & Eco capitalism
Support Growth Management: Manage the growth of government. http://rexcurry.net/artlibertarian/yst_2.jpg Support Growth Management

The color of a healthy environmnet and the color of money are the same http://rexcurry.net/artlibertarian/libgreen2.jpg Capitalists are the true greens
Capitalists are the true Greens!
The color of a healthy environmnet and the color of money are the same http://rexcurry.net/artlibertarian/libgreen2.jpg Capitalists are the true greens

Mother Nature is a Capitalist! http://rexcurry.net/artlibertarian/gyst_6b.jpg Mother Nature is a capitalist!
Capitalist: Mother Nature is a Captialist.
Mother Nature is a Capitalist! http://rexcurry.net/artlibertarian/gyst_6b.jpg Mother Nature is a capitalist!

Follow the socialists: Reject Socialism http://rexcurry.net/artlibertarian/yst_follo.jpg Follow the Socialists and reject socialism.
Socialism: Follow the Socialists & reject Socialism
Follow the socialists: Reject Socialism http://rexcurry.net/artlibertarian/yst_follo.jpg Follow the Socialists and reject socialism.

Enviro-capitalists http://rexcurry.net/tagflower2.JPG Enviro-capitalism
Enviro-capitalists Enviro-capitalism Enviro-capitalist
Enviro-capitalists http://rexcurry.net/tagflower2.JPG Enviro-capitalism

Socialism is environmentally disastrous. Socialism is a disaster to the environment in so many ways.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE http://rexcurry.net/pledge-allegiance-pledge-allegiance.jpg PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Pledge Of Allegiance The Pledge of Allegiance & socialism, segregation and racism
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE http://rexcurry.net/pledge-allegiance-pledge-allegiance.jpg PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Edward Bellamy, Francis Bellamy, Looking Backward, Holocaust, Inquisition
Swastika http://rexcurry.net/swastika3swastika.jpg Swastika
Swastika, Francis Bellamy, Pledge of Allegiance, Edward Bellamy, Looking Backward, Holocaust, Inquisition
Swastika http://rexcurry.net/swastika3swastika.jpg Swastika


Rex Curry blog spot http://rexcurry.blogspot.com/

Pledge of Allegiance blog spot http://pledge-of-allegiance.blogspot.com/

Pledge Allegiance blog spot http://pledge-allegiance.blogspot.com/