Recordings Soul of the Hawk Will McLean Best New Florida Song Winners (2006-2010) The first in a series presenting finalists in the annual song contest Learn More These Diamonds The Will McLean Foundation dedicates itself to promoting Florida artists. THESE DIAMONDS is the first release in the Foundation series. Learn More Will McLean and Friends Live at the Thomas Center Live at the Thomas Center Will McLean Florida's Black Hat Troubadour Will...

Educational Scholarships The Will McLean Foundation's Scholarship program for 2025 is closed. The program will open in Spring 2026. Thank you for your interest in the Will McLean Foundation Scholarship. All interested parties may apply for the Will McLean Foundation Scholarship. The scholarship may be put toward secondary education. This includes four year degrees, two year degrees, technical programs and other applicable institutions approved by the State of Florida. This scholarship is only open to residents of Florida and may only be used for schools in Florida. The applicant must show...

Away O'ee Away O'ee I'll go When the sun sinks down And the yellow moon is big and round Away O'ee, I'll go Away O'ee. Away O'ee I'll fly When the honking geese Are a-sailing through the frozen sky Away O'ee I'll flyAway O'ee.   Away O'ee I'll sing A lilting song for my step is light And my heart has wing Away O'ee I'll sing Away O'ee. Away O'ee I'll love The earth, the sea The people, and our God above Away O'ee I'll love Away O'ee. When in my final sleep I trust my soul Departs into the heavens deep For I'll have done my best Away...

Hold Back the Waters 'Twas in the late twentiesthat there come a big flood, It drownded four thousand,their graves was the mud. 'Twas nothing could withstand that tidal wave, And the ghosts of the vanishedstill cry from grave. Lord hold back the waters of Lake Okeechobee for Lake 0keechobee's blue waters are cold;When wild winds are blowin across OkeechobeeThey're calling and seeking for other poor souls, Oh Lake Okeechobee's blue waters are cold. The Seminole left there In haste and with speed;Their wise words of warning Were given no heed. When...

The Ballad of Will McLean Dark shadow move and the whipporwill calls Crickets chirp a tune Wild turkeys fly to the branches high And frogs do answer the loon. The sounds of the swamp are mournful and true And in this natural land There lives a man—a gentle man Who sings of the Florida sand, sings of the Florida sand. They say his name is Will McLean And he walks in the deep of the night To the place in the glade where the wild deer wade And the horned owls dance in delight. A brute of a man—but a gentle man Guitar held in his hand As he goes along...

About Will McLean The late Will McLean is best known as Florida's premier folk song writer. McLean was born in 1919 near Chipley, Florida. He spent most of his life in the woods and writing songs. McLean's love of music was nurtured by his grandfather who gave him his first instrument, a gourd and cornstalk fiddle with a horsehair bow. At the age of six, he wrote his first song, "Away O'ee." Many say he was a sweet man with a streak of contrariness. This trait compelled him to turn his back on celebrity status and to covet his privacy, forsake material...

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