Local Landmark Lost Death of Clarence the Tree

I went by to check on an old friend of a friend today and found he was gone. Death of Clarence the Tree. In 1973 a movie was made in Kingston Springs entitled The Kingston Springs Suite. Kingston Springs suite written and produced by several famous people, Vince Matthews ,Jim Casey, Johnny Cash, Shel Silverstein, Kris Kristofferson, and Fred Foster. There were many comical and serious stories that revolved around the making of the movie. Essentially, it was about the death of small town main street America.


Johnny Cash wrote about an inanimate character in the movie. Clarence the Tree. The tree grew on Moore Circle in downtown Kingston Springs. Even thought Clarence has been dead for many years today February 8, 2010 final remnants were burned. The owner of the property said that part of the tree had fell and destroyed two cars parked nearby. No eulogy was spoken, but he will be remembered in the hearts of many old time residents of Kingston Springs that marveled at its size.

Clarence The Tree

by Johnny Cash

Now Old Clarence is an oak tree. I think he’s a Pin Oak tree. I really didn’t look real close. Maybe he’s a White Oak tree. Anyway, Clarence is one of the biggest trees I ever saw, not counting the Redwoods and Sequoias in California, which you don’t need to count anyway.

Clarence ain’t only big, he’s a wise tree, because Clarence stands in Vince Matthews’ front yard in Kingston Springs. Old Clarence was there when them Indians was building them mounds just across the Harpeth River. The smoke from their campfires floated through Clarence’s limbs. Old Clarence was there when James Robertson and Isaac Bledsoe and Casper Mansker came floatin’ down on a long hunt. Clarence was there when Andy Jackson was riding his race horses on the Gallatin meadows and the Belle Meade hills. Clarence shook in his roots at the sound of gunfire from the Battle of Nashville.

But most notable, Clarence was there, standing tall and strong, shading the bedroom of Vince Matthews, so he could sleep all day after the long night goings on, creating, writing, composing, unfolding, waving and singing. Old Clarence was there, his leaves rustlin’ and gigglin’ in the cool midnite air while Kris and Shel and Cowboy and Vince and Casey and Glen and Sandy and who in the name of goodness knows who, doing what in the name of goodness knows what.

But the one thing Vince was doin’ he was gleanin’ he was meddlin’ in marvelous minds, his own mind being the most marvelous, ‘cause he had long ago conceived Kingston Springs Suite. And he don’t ask you to pardon the word “suite” cause that’s what it is. A laid-out slice of life us lived and learned by a laid-back country picker who knows and loves and understands the people like you’ll find at Kingston Springs.

I think “Melva’s Wine” is the greatest contemporary American folk song I ever heard.

Yep, Old Clarence saw it all and he heard it all, and as I said, Old Clarence is wise. He knows and he’s standing taller and prouder and waving his arms harder and making more noise than ever before. Old Clarence knows that Vince has got it all together. He heard old Vince break pencil and pencil, guitar string after guitar string. Old Clarence even saw me come and go a few times. Saw me tastin’ Melva’s wine, checking out Melva’s chili, waving farewell to Vince and Melva till another time, heard me holler “You’ll make it Vince!” Yep, Old Clarence is proud and I am too.