Hills was born to a family of missionaries in India and grew up in Michigan. She studied at Interlochen, where she played in a band with Chris Brubeck and Peter Erskine. In 1976, she moved to Chicago and was a co-founder of the record label Hogeye Music. After releasing a few records on Hogeye, the label was bought out by Flying Fish Records in the mid-1980s. In 1984, Anne briefly was a member of a trio (along with Tom Paxton and Bob Gibson) known as the Best of Friends. In 1988 she began collaborating with Cindy Mangsen, with whom she released two duo albums. Together with Priscilla Herdman the three singers recorded as a trio in 1990 and again in 1997. In 1998, she contributed renditions to tribute albums for Pete Seeger and Phil Ochs. The 2000s saw her collaborating with Tom Paxton and singing in a fourpiece called Fourtold with Steve Gillette, Mangsen, and Michael Peter Smith.
In addition to her musical endeavors, Hills also acts on the live stage. Additionally, she collaborated with Liz Paxson on a children's book with an accompanying album, featuring Hills and her daughter, Tamlyn. She lives in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and is married to Mark Moss, editor of Sing Out!.
Yesterday's Wind
Anne Hills Lyrics
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Newspapers, letters, old photographs
Tangled in branches, stuck in the trees
Caught in the bushes and all over the street
And then, you come blowin' in on yesterday's wind
It started at sunset, just a small breeze
Then came the whistlin', pickin' up speed
Even with that it still rattled the floor
So then I watched the ashes spin in yesterday's wind
Yesterday's wind
Came barrelin' through here like thunder
Blew January back to December
A bonfire right down to a cinder
I turned from the window, lay down in my bed
Sounds of destruction pillowed my head
Everything torn up, nothing intact
The world upside down, and me on my back
Again, watching you descend on yesterday's wind
Yesterday's wind
Came barrelin' through here like thunder
Blew January back to December
A bonfire right down to a cinder
Wild geese are flying, further down south
I feel the cold and your kiss on my mouth
God, I'm so weary, it's all I can do
To take a deep breath and one step from you
And then turn my face again from yesterday's wind
Yesterday's Wind
Yesterday's Wind
Anne Hills’s song “Yesterday's Wind” is a poignant ballad that describes the aftermath of a destructive storm. The opening lyrics detail an individual's efforts to clear away the debris and detritus scattered throughout the streets following the tempest. The song then shifts to a description of the storm itself, which began as a seemingly harmless breeze before rapidly escalating into a powerful and unstoppable force. Despite attempts to secure the doors and windows, nothing could prevent the storm from ravaging the environment with ferocity, causing destruction on a monumental scale. Amidst the chaos, the singer watches helplessly as the storm passes, utterly drained and disorientated. However, in the song's final verses, we are given hope that recovery is possible. Though battered and exhausted, the singer bravely faces the future and turns away from the past, symbolized by the storm, and the final haunting refrain of "Yesterday's Wind."
The lyrics in Anne Hills’s song, “Yesterday's Wind” The song is metaphorical and speaks to the hearts of all individuals dealing with change in their lives. The song is not just about one storm, it can also represent a significant change that may happen in someone's life, like a relationship breakdown, loss of a job, or the passing of a loved one. The song helps us understand that storms pass, and they may cause devastation, but we can grow and move on from them. It encourages us to accept that times may be tough, but time passes, and we should not focus on the past but learn the necessary lessons and move on.
Line by Line Meaning
Been out all mornin' picking up trash
I have been collecting rubbish from the streets, including newspapers, letters, and old pictures that were caught in the trees, bushes, and all over the streets since this morning.
And then, you come blowin' in on yesterday's wind
You suddenly come to me as if you were carried by yesterday's wind.
It started at sunset, just a small breeze
At sunset, a gentle wind started blowing.
Then came the whistlin', pickin' up speed
The wind started whistling and getting stronger.
Closed all the shutters, barred all the doors
I closed the windows and locked all the doors to protect myself from the wind.
Even with that it still rattled the floor
Despite all the precautions, the wind still shook the house's floor.
So then I watched the ashes spin in yesterday's wind
I took some time to observe the ashes swirling in the wind.
Yesterday's wind
The wind that happened yesterday.
Came barrelin' through here like thunder
Yesterday's wind came violently and noisily like thunder.
Blew January back to December
The wind was so fierce that it made it feel like January turned back into December.
A bonfire right down to a cinder
The wind even managed to extinguish a significant bonfire and turned it into mere ashes.
I turned from the window, lay down in my bed
I was exhausted from everything that happened, so I went to bed and looked away from the window.
Sounds of destruction pillowed my head
The destruction's noise played in my mind like a bad dream.
Everything torn up, nothing intact
The wind broke everything and left nothing undamaged.
The world upside down, and me on my back
The world was turned upside down so much that it seemed as if I were lying on my back.
Again, watching you descend on yesterday's wind
Once again, I watched you approach me, as if being carried by yesterday's wind.
Wild geese are flying, further down south
The birds have started migrating southwards.
I feel the cold and your kiss on my mouth
I can sense both the cold weather and your kiss on my lips.
God, I'm so weary, it's all I can do
I am so tired that I can barely function, and all I can do is heave a deep sigh.
To take a deep breath and one step from you
To take a deep breath and move one step away from you.
And then turn my face again from yesterday's wind
After taking a deep breath and stepping away, I turned my face away from yesterday's wind once more.
Writer(s): Anne Hills
Contributed by Bella R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.