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The Ballad of Old Henry Parker

from Surroundings Familiar by Gallagher

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about

A story of murder and revenge!

lyrics

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

credits

from Surroundings Familiar, released June 2, 2023
Instruments and vocals - Brian Gallagher

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about

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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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