Calic Moon - RISING
Of Thee I Sing

Words and music by Shirley Ladd

This song was written in loving memory of Daniel McMahon, known and loved by many, who died in a tragic farm accident. This was the story as told to me by Mark who was a longtime friend and neighbor.

Chorus:
And the whippoorwill wails
There’s a hawk on the wing
In the sweet days of summer
Of thee I do sing

The spirit seer watched as you went up the hill
The sight of the tractor gave him a chill
The land that you loved, the place of your birth
The smell of the forest, the feel of the earth

Chorus

You woke with the dawn and went out to the barn
The chores needed doing, that’s life on the farm
The cows needed milking, the chickens need feed
The soil it needs planting come scatter the seed

Chorus

Mamma raised all her children to be kind never cruel
When money was short, she said “we’ll make do”
From haymow to hot rod, from farm life to school
You were beloved by all that you knew

Chorus

One day they gave you a present so dear
That shiny old tractor took you from here
You went up that hill and you never returned
You died in the field on the land of your birth

Chorus

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Revised 1/1/07