FAWM: "Hannah's Field"

Hannah's Field

Liner Notes

Barrie Mathers send me a link to Hannah Hauxwell's story, and suggested I might write a song. Watching the 1972 TV show was distressing, especially the stark contrast between the landlords and the farmers.

Lyrics

D A The people looked at Hannah, G D On their TV screens, G D Oh my, she lives in poverty, A D Oh my, her life is mean, While we have running water, Processed food and credit cards. Bm A D We don’t know a day’s hard work, A D And have concrete in our yards,

The producers rubbed their hands will glee, At every gasp and gawp, Aren’t her manners funny, Is that how poor folk talk, We’re lucky we don’t live like that, We never have to try. Our food comes packaged from the store, There’s nothing we can’t buy.

Hannah sat at the table, Of the lady on the hill, Where those who have, and those who don’t, Are set apart by the lords will, But maybe it’s not fate’s decree, That some starve while others eat, And some toil with tired hands, While others taste only sweet.

But the flowers there in Hannah’s field, Aren’t soaked in pesticide, And there’s no plastic or steroids, In the meat her cows provide, And while life could be brutal, In the cold and storm and snow, The modern life that we all live, Is a place where nothing grows.

Comments

@janeg 4d

I hadn’t heard of the show, but I certainly know most poor people work very hard, give more generously than the rich and should never have to put up with the inequality.

@bethdesombre 4d

You paint a nice picture of the constrasts (I especially like "some toil with tired hands/ While others taste only sweet," and also the couplet that precedes it and paints the political context) and the last verse makes clear which one I'd rather have. I love your musical sensibilities.

@rocketgrrrl 4d

There's some serious introspection you've tucked in between the lines of Hannah's story here. "maybe it’s not fate’s decree, That some starve while others eat" indeed. Your song points to the inequalities and the senselessness of the disparity, while also hinting at how wealth leaves us empty inside. Beautiful delivery of a message that needs telling, again and again.

@celineellis 4d

Thanks for introducing me to Hannahs story in such a gorgeous folky way. The verse starting ‘Hannah sat at the table’ is particularly vivid in the story. Nice write!

@mbmusic 4d

Really nice song and voice! Great storytelling lyrics! Hannah definitely lived better than most of us without the distractions and conveniences.

@sapient 4d

What a beautiful song. I've not seen that documentary before, but just found it on YouTube, so that's me sorted for the next little while. Indeed, what a hard life she led. Inequality is a terrible thing..