"Whispering Pines" | ||||
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Cover to the French single release
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Song by The Band | ||||
from the album The Band | ||||
Released | September 22, 1969 | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 3:58 | |||
Label | Capitol | |||
Songwriter(s) | Richard Manuel, Robbie Robertson | |||
Producer(s) | John Simon | |||
The Band track listing | ||||
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"Whispering Pines" is a song written by Richard Manuel and Robbie Robertson that was first released by The Band on their self-titled 1969 album The Band. It was released as a single in France, backed by "Lonesome Suzie."
"Whispering Pines" is a ballad on the theme of loneliness. Manuel wrote the melody and vocal line but could not come up with the lyrics, so Robertson wrote the lyrics. According to Robertson, "Richard always had this very plaintive attitude in his voice, and sometimes just in his sensitivity as a person. I tried to follow that, to go with it and find it musically. We both felt very good about this song." The lyrics are filled with images of loneliness such as a lonely foghorn, crashing waves and the titular whispering pines.Allmusic critic Bill Janovitz notes that pines are prevalent in , where the Band was living, and in Canada, where most of the group is originally from. According to music critic Barney Hoskyns, " the lyric that Robbie worked around Richard's vocal lines was one of the most beautiful he ever wrote, a song of intense loneliness set beside an ocean that seemed to symbolize the singer's endless sense of loss."
According to Band manager Joe Forno, Manuel had written the melody on a piano that had one key which was out of tune. He decided to tune the piano that was used for the recording the same way, and that provides the repeating piano figure at the beginning of the song. Despite the sad imagery, Hoskins hears resolution and peace in the music, and notes that the last words of the song state that "the lost are found."Rolling Stone Magazine critic Greil Marcus also finds optimism in the song, but "only because it is so full of desire." Janowitz finds some hope in the line "If only one star shines, that's enough to get inside."
Associated Press writer Mary Campbell described the song as stressing "the western of country-western," which she described as "a very good idea."