Brandywine

The common people into heaven wandered
The tribe of Lenape built a life beside her
Years of plenty, peaceful days
Until the coming of the sunset on their ways

God made a river, snakes and winds
Through the valley, the Brandywine
Glacier to granite, gravity and time
Through the valley, the Brandywine

John Chadd’s crossing to ford the waters
To build a future for our sons and daughters
Wheels of power, mills and flour
Black killing powder, ledgers and dollars

God made a river, snakes and winds
Through the valley, the Brandywine
Glacier to granite, gravity and time
Through the valley, the Brandywine

Now I live on the western branch, up the hill from Embree’s mill
Ida took the bridge last summer, it lays there busted still
And when I’m dead and gone, my ashes spread upon her
I’ll dream of common people, sharing common waters

God made a river, snakes and winds
Through the valley, the Brandywine
Glacier to granite, gravity and time
Through the valley, the Brandywine