Reunion Hill

Joan Baez

About Reunion Hill

Reunion Hill is a 1997 album by singer-songwriter Richard Shindell. It was Shindell's third and final studio album for Shanachie Records. Allmusic calls the album "songcraft at its finest." The album includes a cover of "I'll Be Here in the Morning" by Townes Van Zandt who died earlier that same year. Shindell composed the title song in 1996 for Joan Baez, who later included it on her Gone From Danger album. It was also covered by Fairport Convention on their 2011 CD Festival Bell and Show of Hands on their 2012 album Wake the Union. The song is written from the perspective of a Civil War widow. Although Baez has called it the best antiwar song she has ever heard, Shindell has said he does not think of the song as antiwar. 


Year:
1997
4:08
246 
#1

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Must've been in late September 
When last I climbed Reunion Hill 
I fell asleep on Indian Boulder 
And dreamed a dream I will not tell 
I came home as the sun went down 
One eye trained upon the ground 
Even now I find their things 
Glasses, coins, and golden rings 

It's ten years since that ragged army 
Limped across these fields of mine 
I gave them bread, I gave them brandy 
Most of all, I gave them time 
My well is deep, the water pure 
The streams are fed by mountain lakes 
I cleaned the brow of many a soldier 
Dousing for my husband's face 

I won't forget our sad farewell 
And how I ran to climb that hill 
Just to watch him walk across the valley 
And disappear into the trees 

Alone there in a sea of blue 
It circles every afternoon 
A single hawk in God's great sky 
Looking down with God's own eyes 
He soars above Reunion Hill 
I pray he spiral higher still 
As if from such an altitude 
He might just keep my love in view 

Must've been in late September 
When last I climbed Reunion Hill

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Joan Baez

Joan Baez ( /ˈbaɪ.ɛz/) (born January 9, 1941 as Joan Chandos Báez) is an American folk singer, songwriter, musician, and a prominent activist in the fields of human rights, peace, and environmental justice. more »

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Written by: SHINDELL

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song's Origin
This beautiful melancholic song, "Reunion Hill," is not written by Joan Baez herself, but by Richard Shindell, a revered folk singer-songwriter. Baez has often included the works of other songwriters in her albums.
Album Details
The song "Reunion Hill" is taken from Joan Baez's 24th studio album, 'Gone from Danger,' released in 1997.
Theme of Song
The song delivers a strong anti-war message. It's narrated from the perspective of a widow who lost her husband in the Civil War and now waits for him on the dreamy Reunion Hill.
Grammy Nomination
The album containing the song "Reunion Hill", 'Gone from Danger,' was nominated for the Grammy in the 'Best Contemporary Folk Album' category in 1998.
Musical Style
Consistent with Baez's signature sound, "Reunion Hill" is a folk song with a profound narrative. It is a blend of her soaring vocals and affection for thoughtful storytelling.
Cover Song
Not only Joan Baez interpreted Richard Shindell's music. Shindell's original version of "Reunion Hill" was covered by several other artists as well, suggesting the universal appeal of the song.
Lyric Interpretation
The widow in the "Reunion Hill" longs for another chance to see her war-hero husband. This personal story presents a much wider image of war's devastating consequences on families and communities.
Impact
Like many of Joan Baez's songs, "Reunion Hill" affected audiences vastly due to its emotional lyrics and delivery. Many consider the song an essential addition to war ballads.
Memorable Lyrics
Some of the most touching words in the song are, "And I see him in the new men, as through the fog they come. Still marching toward the cannon's roar, still beating on the drum." This reflects the ongoing nature of war and its casualties.
Legacy
Baez's heart-touching rendition of "Reunion Hill" continues to resonate with listeners even today, securing her place as a critical figure in contemporary songwriting and anti-war campaigning.

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