Henry's Songbook

Abraham

• James Keelaghan

  I had a dream the other night when all the world was still
  That I walked out with Abraham below a fortress on a hill
  We looked across the Saint Charles River to the heights that bear his name
  And talked of things that had transpired since the last time that he came
  Says I, On these fields grazed your cattle raised on these your kith and kin
  And on this field was fiery battle Montcalf to lose and Wolfe to win
  Says he, But they both died of wounds inflicted by the cannonade
  Those wounds it seems were never healed they fester to this day
  
  Abraham - when will this fighting end
  When will we learn to recognize
  Who is foe and who is friend
  Abraham - this field that bears your name
  For one a field of victory
  For one a field of shame
  
  What of your children Abraham dispersed from this your plain
  The continent they conquered though they did it in another's name
  The land they won but for their strife the profits went astray
  The money never crossed their palms or let them have their say
  
  Abraham - are we sometimes bound by pride
  Too mindful of our hopes and dreams
  To let the anger slide
  Abraham - this field that bears your name
  For one a field of victory
  For one a field of shame
  
  What of the future Abraham will we achieve some peace
  From these solitudes we wander in will there be some release
  Will my children learn to find a way to bridge the distance I have not
  To learn the scars of history are sometimes best forgotten
  And I had a dream the other night when all the world was still
  That I walked out with Abraham that Abraham was living still
  And in the dream we parted as families oftimes will
  Our questions left unanswered though not through lack of will
  
  Abraham - the questions linger on
  There is no hope in all this strife
  There is no right or wrong
  Abraham - this field that bears your name
  For one a field of victory
  For one a field of shame
  Abraham - this field that bears your name
  For one a field of victory
  For one a field of shame
  
  

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