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The Mist​-​covered Mountains of Home​/​Hush, Hush

from Captains of Industry by Penelope Swales and the Stranded Assets

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about

This cover is a quite an old song and the tune that goes with it is even older. It's a Clearance Lullaby addressed to children of the Scots diaspora. It speaks of the Highland Clearances in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth centuries when, as a result of the Industrial Revolution, Scottish Lairds decided it was more lucrative to run sheep than have tenants on their estates. Thousands were violently displaced, and numerous people were murdered in the process. Many left Scotland for Australia, Canada or the United States - where ironically, they became part of the forces driving other indigenous people off their land.

lyrics

Lyrics Jim Mc Lean/tune John Cameron

Hush, hush, time tae be sleepin'.
Hush, hush, dreams come a-creepin';
Dreams of peace and of freedom,
So smile in your sleep, bonny baby.

Once, our valleys were ringin'
with sounds of our children singin',
but now, sheep bleat 'til the evenin'
and shielings stand empty and broken.

Where stands our fierce Highland mettle?
Our men, once sae feared in battle
now stand, bowed, huddled like cattle,
and wait tae be shipped o'er the ocean.
Hush, hush, time tae be sleepin'.
Hush, hush, dreams come a-creepin';
Dreams of peace and of freedom,
So smile in your sleep, bonny baby.

We stood with our heads bowed in prayer
while Factors laid our cottages bare.
The flames fired the clear mountain air,
and many were dead in the mornin'.

Hush, hush, time tae be sleepin'.
Hush, hush, dreams come a-creepin';
Dreams of peace and of freedom,
So smile in your sleep, bonny baby.

Nae use greetin' or prayin' now.
All Gone. Gone, no hope of stayin',
sae hush, now. The anchor's a-weighin'.
Don't cry in your sleep, bonny baby.

Hush, hush, time tae be sleepin'.
Hush, hush, dreams come a-creepin';
Dreams of peace and of freedom,
So smile in your sleep, bonny baby.

credits

from Captains of Industry, released December 17, 2023
Penelope Swales: Lead vocals, Irish whistle

Mal Webb: Backing Vocals, Bass

Kylie Morrigan: Backing Vocals, Violin

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Penelope Swales Boolarra, Australia

Penelope Swales has been articulating the human condition with passion and humour for 30+ years. She sings about politics, love, friendship, the unbreakable bond between us and dogs and the impact of the Internet on society. She won the 2019 Alistair Hulett Songs for Social Justice Award with “Cambridge Analytica”. “The Ides of March in Christchurch" was short-listed for the same award in 2020. ... more

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