Last weekend I was alone walking around Boston's North End waiting for my wife and girls to arive in the city. I stepped into Copp's Hill Burying Ground and I was almost immediately inspired to write the following lyrics. Now I just need the appropriate tune to go with it.

Time Stands Still on the Burying Ground

Death heads on the stones
Marking spaces for ashes and bones
Was a young man walking round
He heard the voices whisper
time stands still
on the burying ground

Since 1600 years
Copp's Hill drowned in tears
400 years some bodies in the ground
He heard the voices whisper
time stands still
on the burying ground

Same here today
As the sad day in May
When they laid two sick children in the ground
He heard the voices whisper
time stands still
on the burying ground

Time has passed around the trees
And the old fence marking a boundary
Leaving it's mark on all that surround
He heard the voices whisper
time stands still
on the burying ground
 

Death heads on the stones
Marking spaces for ashes and bones
Was an old man walking round 
He heard the voices whisper 
time stands still 
on the burying ground

E-mail me when people leave their comments –

You need to be a member of Cigar Box Nation to add comments!

Join Cigar Box Nation

Comments

  • Thanks LBL!
  • outstanding lyrics!

  • Graham,

    Thanks for the comment.  I did find a tune I liked to play for this song and I tried singing to it.  I did a video and listened before posting.  It was the most gawd awful sound I'd ever heard.  My voice - not the git.  So it is back to the drawing board or looking for an appropriate vocalist.

    Thanks again for reading and for your comment.

  • Hi Bad  Finger, have you sorted the music for 'Time stands still in the burial ground' if so, how.  I find it hard to work out a tune as well. Bob Dylan can sound blusey.

    Cheers, Fingers.  (England)

  • Wow, the photos are - don't know the right word.  I like them.  

  • No worries, dude. Welp, 'nother long day tomorrow, so I'm off to dreamland. I'll ask Josie and Nate to send you a tune next time you visit 'em.
  • Yeah, it certainly washes the Johnny Cash outta your brain listening to that again.  Thanks, man.

  • Just had another thought that might give you some breathing room for this one: earlier this afternoon, The White Stripes' "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground" popped into my head, so I got on YouTube, and found several versions of Jack White doing it.

    Will definitely give you another man in black to relate to, anyway.
  • Yep, I'm waiting to hear how I will do it.  That's why it's unfortunate that the tune carrying around in my head is from the man in black at the moment.

    I'll be back in Boston on Tuesday night and maybe I'll have a wander again.  Maybe they will sing it to me.  ;)

  • Eric,

    Was gonna suggest Em, Am and D, but didn't wanna get in your space. Nothing wrong with Johnny Cash, but my guess is you just need to hear how Badfinger would do it ;-). Looking forward to the end result.
This reply was deleted.