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Jim Hanlon

from Eternal Rest EP by Heather Valley

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Jordyn Marcellus
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about

Jim Hanlon (6:05) explores a family history through the stories of men who shared the same name, bringing the listener from Ireland to Canada, from Ontario to the prairies, to churches and quarries and lush gardens, charismatic men with flowers and spying children who want to know what the adults are doing, adding to the history of the place, and perpetually wondering what secrets the adults can't or won't share.

lyrics

James came from an Irish town
He bought a plot and built a church
We tried to find it in the prairie after a century
And it was lovely, it was lonely

Was it luck or was it merit?
Or was it hard work?
It’s usually between the three

But the first homestead was built on a quarry
And he gave and gave and gave
Cause that’s how men of God be

You give and give and never get
Give and give and give
You give and give and never get
And that’s the hard road to eternal rest

Grandpa was a ladies man
He never a Mary leave
From a Sunday afternoon at the farm
And the gardens behind
Without a fresh cut bunch of flowers
Bound with leaves

Cause you give and give and never get
Give and give and give
You give and give and never get
And that’s the hard road to eternal rest

Pa sharp shot like a legend, man
Yeah he was hard, but he was fair
When someone hit his favourite friend
He gave him a shovel and he said
“now you go dig two graves over there”

You give and give and never get
You give and give and give
You give and give and never get
And that’s the hard road to eternal rest

Ma and pa are nevermore, but the cats still call to to be fed
You notice a mark on the ceiling
and your sister says “it’s not a leak
I spilled my drink
Listening to the adults when I should have been in bed…”

You give and give and this is what you get
You give and give and give
You give and give and this is what you get
Put down your bags and rest

You give and give and never get
Give and give and give
Give and give and never get
That’s the road to eternal rest
That’s the road to eternal rest
This is the road to eternal rest

credits

from Eternal Rest EP, released February 23, 2022
Copyright Heather Alexander 2022

Vocals & acoustic guitars HV
Steel guitars Mike Brenner
Wurlitzer Thom McKay
Bass & clarinet Nimal Agalawatte
Fiddle Gareth Inkster
Mixed and mastered by Nimal Agalawatte at Four String Audio in Hamilton, ON.

Art by Josh Dunlap / @chemicalmessiah

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Heather Valley Hamilton, Ontario

Americana musician based in Hamilton, Ontario

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