On Cuckoo Hill

from A Derelict Chorale by Chris Thorpe-Tracey

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‘On Cuckoo Hill’

Still early on in The America Ground era, a great storm destroys miller Joe Carswell’s mill, which he had inherited from his mother.

lyrics

On Cuckoo Hill 85bpm / in C, small choral group tells the story

Lad came running through the windy night
Joe, you’d best come now!
He’s shouting the street awake, says the wife – her voice?
Sir, the Windmill’s down – young lad’s voice?

That’s twice in less than 10 years
A storm’s rolled in this hard
It's blowing a gale up Cuckoo Hill
And it’s torn the mill apart

F - Am - You can see all of everything – older male voice?
Am - G - F - In the grinding of the wheat
Am - G - F - In the baking of bread
G - C Mr Carswell said – choir
More than meat or even beer – older male voice?
You’ll find the whole world hiding here
In the baking of bread
Mr Carswell said – choir

On Cuckoo Hill
With prices rising
We all fall down
If there’s no bread
Mr Carswell said

The Priory Mill was in the family
Joe inherited it from his mother
And he swore he’d run it evenly
Even when the times got tougher

An honest miller Carswell was
He had a golden thumb
Sold honest flour since the ‘70s
But that storm had him done

It took his windmill by the joints
Like a ship, tore the sails to bits
Now he’s crying like a child in the pouring rain
Down now on his knees in the sheep shit

F - Am - You can see all of everything
Am - G - F - In the grinding of the wheat
Am - G - F - In the baking of bread
G - C Mr Carswell said

More than meat or even beer
You’ll find the whole world hiding here
In the baking of bread
Mr Carswell said

F On Cuckoo Hill
Am With prices rising
G We all fall down
F If there’s no bread
C Mr Carswell said

credits

from A Derelict Chorale, released May 21, 2020

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MSL Hastings Hastings, UK

mslprojects.co.uk

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