Underneath the Spreading Chestnut Tree

History & Origin

"Underneath the Spreading Chestnut Tree" is a British action song that became widely popular in the 1930s and remained a staple of children's entertainment through the middle of the twentieth century. The song is associated with a hand and arm sequence in which performers mime "spreading" (arms outstretched), "chestnut" (touching chest then head), and "tree" (arms raised) — eliminating words and replacing them with actions as the verses progress.

The song gained particular public attention in 1938 when King George VI was photographed performing the actions at a Scouts camp, a moment that gave the song a brief burst of notoriety. The melody is thought to be based on an older American song, but the version with its characteristic actions became an English institution.

The image of sitting under a chestnut tree with a banjo on your knee, singing to someone you like, has a simple pastoral happiness that makes the song instantly appealing. This recording gives it a rock arrangement with plenty of energy, keeping the spirit of an outdoor summer sing-along very much intact.