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Lone Pine Hill Lyrics
I swear I see her in my dreams sometimes
Held up in the middle of the night
Shakin like a pistol in a young mans hand
There in the pale moonlight
Standin up the top of that lonely hill
Spared by the company mines
Is my blue eyed baby with her best dress on
In the shadow of a lonely pine
It was back before the war
When the company came
These hills grew wild and free
Me and baby we'd hide in the hollers low
Away from the cruel sun's heat
But then they knocked down the timber
And burned off the brush
To get to the riches below
And when they pulled out
They left a cold black ground
And one pine standing lone
So take me home...
Lone pine hill
I signed up back in '61
I'm an army of Virginia man
I've been from Mannasas to Mackonackey
All the way to Sailors Creek fighting
For my home land
After 4 years gone and all hope lost
And Richmond under seige
And we're diggin out Five Forks
And waitin in the rain
For Sheridan to bring us to our knees
So take me home...
Lone pine hill
There's a strange moon hangin' overhead tonight
And if the rain keeps comin then the creek's gonna rise
With the good lord's grace
I'll make it outta this place
I'll be in her arms come the morning light I swear...
So god grant me speed and grant me forgiveness
And carry me on through the night
Take me through the hills and over your rivers
Away from this awful fight
Cause I ain't never known a man that's ever owned another
Ain't never owned nothin' of my own
And after 4 long years I just can't tell you
What the hell I've been fighting for...
So take me home...
Lone pine hill
Take me home...
Lone pine hill
Held up in the middle of the night
Shakin like a pistol in a young mans hand
There in the pale moonlight
Spared by the company mines
Is my blue eyed baby with her best dress on
In the shadow of a lonely pine
When the company came
These hills grew wild and free
Me and baby we'd hide in the hollers low
Away from the cruel sun's heat
But then they knocked down the timber
And burned off the brush
To get to the riches below
And when they pulled out
They left a cold black ground
And one pine standing lone
Lone pine hill
I'm an army of Virginia man
I've been from Mannasas to Mackonackey
All the way to Sailors Creek fighting
For my home land
And Richmond under seige
And we're diggin out Five Forks
And waitin in the rain
For Sheridan to bring us to our knees
Lone pine hill
And if the rain keeps comin then the creek's gonna rise
With the good lord's grace
I'll make it outta this place
I'll be in her arms come the morning light I swear...
And carry me on through the night
Take me through the hills and over your rivers
Away from this awful fight
Ain't never owned nothin' of my own
And after 4 long years I just can't tell you
What the hell I've been fighting for...
Lone pine hill
Take me home...
Lone pine hill
Song Info
Submitted by
melancholyjen On May 11, 2009
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I cant believe nobody else has posted on this song I love it so much. About 1/2 or 1/3 of the way into the song is a SINGLE stanza celebrating war in all of it's false glory and the ENTIRE rest of the song is a disillusioned soldier's desperation to get out and return to the life he had and the woman he loves. Plus that line about how beautiful landscapes and countless living things are destroyed forever in the name of money for right now. This song is about 50% love song, 35% anti-war, 15% conservation (by my estimates at least; somebody else could absolutely come up with a different ratio). Amazing.
No, I think clearly it is 52% love song, 38% anti-war, and 10% conservation... just kidding... great comment. I agree totally.
No, I think clearly it is 52% love song, 38% anti-war, and 10% conservation... just kidding... great comment. I agree totally.
Sailor's Creek is also spelled Sayler's Creek - the details of the Army of Northern Virginia are interesting here - this is a great piece but I can't imagine that a person who actually fought in these engagements would have seen them in such a wide perspective. Soldiers usually only see their companions and the ground where they fell. Still, this is song echoes a wisdom that I hope we, as a people, may have come to have - but I doubt it.
What is the purpose of this song?
Anyone else notice the similarity between the last stanza and this bit from "Ben McCulloch" by his father, Steve Earle?
I killed a boy the other night who'd never even shaved I don't even know what I'm fightin' for I ain't never owned a slave
@jcubed .... Yep.
@jcubed .... Yep.