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about

Ultimately, this is a song about the death of a child - Laurel Hill Cemetery is a famous and beautiful historic cemetery located near Marion's Philadelphia home.  Marion often takes walks along the river by the cemetery and decided to learn more about its founding.  She was moved when reading about the origins of the cemetery in the 1840s.  One of the founders had experienced the tragic death of his daughter who was subsequently buried in the City of Philadelphia Cemetery, which was very crowded at the time.  A few months later,  even more distressing, when he went to mourn at her grave  he could not find it.  This led to him to the founding of the Laurel Hill Cemetery with two other prominent gentleman. While the song is about the loss of a child, its also about the loss of living in the present, with those we love.

lyrics

By Marion Halliday 2015 - all rights reserved

V. 1 - You'd climb Laurel Hill in the early morning sun
Dangle from the tall trees and watch that water run
Never dream that the frost would one day come
or your breath hang like a white cloud, or the leaves turn brown

V 2 - Starts with a simple thing, nothing to alarm
A slight chill or a dull ache, theres chores to be done
The cows to milk, and its time to harvest corn
We'd say hard work won't wait, you can rest when you're done

Cho: Shadows on the water, voices in the wind
Gone in a moment, as if they've never been
Once I brought you foxglove, wish that I could still
I'm looking, I can't find you on Laurel Hill

V. 3 - How fast a small cough can turn so very bad
The blossom of youth was all you would have
In a bed of foxglove you now rest
With lilac for your bonnet and lilies for your dress

V. 4 - I turn the soil from dawn until dusk
Looking for solace in the toil and the dust
All i find is all I can feel
When I walk to where you rest on Laurel Hill

V. 5  - I climb Laurel Hill in the fading of the sun
I stand in the cool shade and watch that water run
I dream of the day when I'll be resting still
Beside you in the foxglove on Laurel Hill

credits

from Walking in Tall Grass, released November 7, 2017
Trickster Sister with Brad Hinton on lap steel; Cathleen Stephen on flute; Jim Salamone on drums

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Marion Halliday Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Songwriter Marion Halliday is proud purveyor of her own special blend of bluegrass and bourbon-infused original women- powered, Americana. Marion, a Kentucky native, now living in Philly, writes on a range of contemporary as well as historical topics. Marion plays solo as well as with her band, Trickster Sister, comprised of Jane Halliday on fiddle and Donna Bostock on bass. ... more

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