1. |
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Henry Parker was a farmer, born and raised on this land
A gentle man of kindness with hard and calloused hands
Stephen James he was a drifter, rode the rails from town to town
Said he’d help old Henry with the crops and in the barn he would camp out
Rosa Lee was Henry’s grandchild turned twelve years old this July
The apple of ol’ Henry’s eye, a graceful flower in the wild
They found her in the orchard, her school books strewn all around
Her Sunday dress in tatters, her small hands were tightly bound
Now when The Sheriff broke the news to the congregation there
No one could forget Henry’s cries of anguished deep despair
Someone saw a drifter running hard down Maitland road
And when the dogs did run him down,
He was clutching a child’s locket made of gold
Six strong hands carried the pine box down the 14 chapel steps
And Henry’s eldest Leroy dug the hole where she would rest
The preacher read the sermon the very best he could
And in the morning sunlight teardrops stained the rough-hewn wood
They tried James in September, just after harvest time
But the Judge said there was no witness to place him at the crime
As Stephen James stood up to leave one single shot rang out …
And Henry’s smoking 44 dropped from his hand down to the ground, down to the ground
Henry Parker was a farmer, born and raised on this land
A gentle man of kindness with iron shackles on his hands
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2. |
Mary Had a Little Lamb
05:02
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3. |
Surroundings Familiar
05:53
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The starkly lit white walls are so frightening
I can’t find no colour at all
Except for the blue in the young nurses’ eyes
That glisten with tears as she musters a smile
And tenderly tries to make me more comfortable now
I nod at her meekly since she’s trying to be sweet
It’s a duty she works hard to uphold
She holds my frail hand as I feel my heart wane
As I stare up at the goddamned ceiling
In this final leaving place so foreign and cold
Let me die in surroundings familiar
Let me sit down once more by the fire
Let me go through the photos in old wooden frames,
The faces that comfort though I’ve forgotten their names
Because everything there is everything I’ve ever known
Back in my home, back in my home, back in my home
Do they see all the life behind these greying eyes
Do they know that I once was young too?
I once had a job, a wife beside me
A contributing member of society
Through Monday to Friday I toiled and I saved
Saturdays rested and on Sundays I prayed
Let me die in surroundings familiar
Put me back in my favourite chair
Let these poor old eyes fade as I look at the lake
Past the tree my wife planted in ‘78
Then scatter my ashes over the soft sandy loam
All around my home, all around my home, all around my home
It’s the end of the line
And there’s nobody here to kiss me goodbye
Or sit here with me
And who knows me by name and not just the dying old man in room 423
Let me die in surroundings familiar
Full of colours and textures I know
Surrounded and comforted with sweet memories
Of places I’ve been and those close to me
Reminding me of all of the life and the love that I’ve known
Then slip away peacefully like the last line of a poem…
Back in my home, back in my home, back in my home
Let me go home
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4. |
The Cowboy of Queens
03:50
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5. |
The Only One
03:36
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I’ve never seen the sun
Shine on anyone
As brightly as you honey
Uh huh, you’re the only one
I walked around in a dream
Uninspired, half asleep
You breathed life into me
Mmmm, you’re the only one
I, I never saw the beauty
In a sunset or a smile
But I, will not miss one single moment
Oh no, not not with you in my life
I was just waiting to find
Passion, love and desire
I feel the love in your eyes
Oh oh oh, you’re the only one
I, I never knew the magic
True love could bring
But I will cherish every single heartbeat
Oh honey now that you’re in my life
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6. |
These 4 Walls
03:55
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7. |
Harbourtown
05:52
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From her window in this harbour town
She sees the boats come in
Her friends and family are homeward bound
Thank God they’re safe again
riff
She takes his dinner from off the stove
When she hears his truck roll in
Outside the window breakers lash the cove
And it sounds like music to him
Chorus
And he’d dance
And he’d sing
And oh how their children’s laughter would ring
And he’d love her and she’d sigh
Cuz in the morning her fisherman leaves with the tide
riff
The fog rolls heavy in this harbour town
But there’s mouths to feed / bills to pay
He pecks her cheek, and she turns her head
To hide her tears away
She checks the clock above the stove
She clasps her hands around her tea
Her window looks out upon the cove
Where the lighthouse scours the sea
Chorus + solo
The window creaks as the rains roll down
She dabs her eyes and sips her tea
On the mantle cards and flowers from town
Sympathies and memories
She takes the flowers down to the cove
And at the head she throws them in
She holds the children’s hands and whispers a prayer
The children quietly join in…..
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8. |
Forgive Me Son
03:40
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Gallagher Hudson, Québec
Brian Gallagher (Gallagher)'s 9th studio album and is easily his most introspective and thoughtful. He has a been a finalist in the UK Songwriting contest, the Blues and Roots Canada contest 2020 and a top 10 finish in the 2022 World Songwriting Awards. ... more
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