"GREEN,
GREEN HILLS of EARTH" began
as a little guitar fillup (the one that begins the tune), as I hunted
for a way into a song in
memory of Rebecca Skeen Webb. Like many songwriters, I normally build
tunes around a snatch of lyric or nice image. But the guitar riff seemed
to capture something of Becky's sweet, lilting spirit. We were bandmates
for many years and stepped out into the world together as performers
in the band Doogabeka. She died at age 50 of ovarian cancer on Easter
Sunday, 2002.
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LEAD VOCAL: Douglas Imbrogno
BACKING VOCAL: Heidi Muller, dhruva, Erin Webb
FLUTE: dhruva
RHYTHM GUITAR: Douglas Imbrogno, Bob Webb
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REFERENCES:
/ The song title comes indirectly from a Robert Heinlein sci-fi book whose name
I've always loved, "The Green, Green Hills of Earth." It was only later
I recalled how much Becky loved science fiction.
All songs by Douglas Imbrogno (except 'Lights' by Rebecca Skeen Webb, 'Rosie's Lullaby,' by Bob Webb and 'Scarborough Fair,' traditional) Copyright 2004.
GREEN, GREEN HILLS of EARTH
words & music
by Douglas Imbrogno (copyright 2004)
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For Becky
In the green, green hills of Earth/ You
stand and say goodbye/ To the land that brought you birth / as rain cries from
the sky.
In the flowers of the field/ I hear your laughter still / The candle you revealed
/ burns on my window sill.
CHORUS:
In my house, there's a room for you / In my garden, blossoms tall and blue / In the air a scent of irises / In my house, there's a room -- for you...
On the green, green hills of Earth / You stand and wave farewell / I cannot count
your worth/ or the darkness in the well.
There's a Buddha on my lawn/ who greets those who arrive/ Even though you're
gone/ your gift is still alive.
CHORUS:
In my house, there's a room for you / In my garden, blossoms tall and blue / In the air a scent of irises / In my house, there's a room -- for you...
In the green, green hills of earth...
In the green, green hills of earth...
In the green, green hills of earth...
In the green, green hills of earth.
In the green, green hills of earth...
In the green, green hills of earth... (Repeat until end...)