McRae was born in Harlem, New York, on the 8th April 1920, and studied piano as a child. As a teenager she came to the attention of Teddy Wilson and his wife, the composer Irene Kitchings Wilson. Through their influence, one of McRae’s early songs, "Dream of Life", was recorded by Wilson’s longtime collaborator Billie Holiday.
By the late 1940s she was well known among the modern jazz musicians who gathered at Minton's Playhouse, Harlem’s most famous jazz club, where she was the intermission pianist. But it was while working in Brooklyn that she came to the attention of Decca’s Milt Gabler. Her five year association with Decca yielded twelve LPs.
The musicians she sang with include Benny Carter, Mercer Ellington, Count Basie, Sammy Davis Jr, Dave Brubeck, and Louis Armstrong. She was married once (and briefly), to drummer Kenny Clarke.
McRae died on the 10th November 1994.
The Folks Who Live On The Hill
Carmen McRae Lyrics
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You and I,
Shiny and new a cottage that two can fill.
And we'll be pleased to be called,
"The folks who live on the hill".
Someday we may be adding a thing or two,
A wing or two.
But we will always be called,
"The folks who live on the hill".
Our veranda will command a view of meadows green,
The sort of veiw that seems to want to be seen.
And when the kids grow up and leave us,
We'll sit and look at the same old view,
Just we two.
Darby and Joan who used to be Jack and Jill,
The folks like to be called,
What they have always been called,
"The folks who live on the hill".
The Folks Who Live On The Hill by Carmen McRae is a romantic ballad about a couple's dream of a future together, building a home on a hilltop high, and then spending the rest of their lives enjoying the beauty that surrounds them. The song is a tribute to the tranquility and contentment that comes along with a simple life. The first verse speaks of the couple's shared vision of their soon-to-be home; they dream of a cottage where they can reside together. The second verse talks about the inevitable changes that they will make as a family, such as adding a wing or two to their humble abode. No matter the changes, however, they will always be known as "The folks who live on the hill."
The song describes a peaceful and picturesque life that the two will lead, with a veranda that commands a view of meadows green. The references made in the song to Jack and Jill, and how they are now "Darby and Joan," suggest that the couple will age together and stay true to the simple life they've built. The song serves as an anthem for people who appreciate and value simplicity and the joys of a peaceful and contented existence. It celebrates the promise of life's endless possibilities and fullness, whether spent in a cottage or a luxury villa, as long as you can find contentment.
Line by Line Meaning
Someday we'll build a home on a hilltop high,
One day we will construct a beautiful house on top of a hill
You and I,
Together, you and I will build this house
Shiny and new a cottage that two can fill.
A new and cozy house that we both can live in
And we'll be pleased to be called,
We will feel proud to be known as
"The folks who live on the hill".
Those who reside on the hill
Someday we may be adding a thing or two,
In time we may need some additions
A wing or two.
An additional room or two
We will make changes as any fam'ly will,
Like any other family, we will evolve and change over time
But we will always be called,
However, we will continue to be known as
"The folks who live on the hill".
Those who reside on the hill
Our veranda will command a view of meadows green,
Our porch will have a magnificent view of lush, green fields
The sort of veiw that seems to want to be seen.
A picturesque view that seems eager to be observed and admired
And when the kids grow up and leave us,
When our children become adults and move out
We'll sit and look at the same old view,
We will sit and gaze at the same beautiful sight
Just we two.
Just the two of us
Darby and Joan who used to be Jack and Jill,
A reference to an elderly couple in a traditional English folk story
The folks like to be called,
The couple prefers to be known as
What they have always been called,
Their long-standing name
"The folks who live on the hill".
Those who reside on the hill
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jerome Kern, Oscar II Hammerstein
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind