ONE GREEN HILL

there's nothing for your comfort 
in the place where I was born 
someone's got the roses 
'cause my people got the thorns
my people are the poor ones 
their country made of stones 
their wealth is in persistence 
in stories and in bones

and one green hill, one green hill 
one far green hill we carry everywhere

the tide must have a turning 
the wind must have a change 
children go to cities 
where the stars look strange 
and memory's a winding path 
shining in the rain 
to places where we parted 
and we shall not meet again

and somewhere in the story
it came as no surprise 
one time for all time the rain got in my eyes

it might be tears of laughter 
it might be tears of rage 
you hate it and you love it 
and it rattles at your cage 
my people are survivors living in the cracks 
whatever bad luck hands them 
they keep on coming back

to one green hill, one green hill 
one far green hill we carry everywhere