Poverty drove the Dickens to move to the Baltimore, Maryland area when Dickins was nineteen. There she met Mike Seeger, younger brother of Pete Seeger and founding member of the New Lost City Ramblers and became active in the Baltimore-Washington area bluegrass and folk music scene during the 1960s. During this time she also established a collaborative relationship with Mike Seeger's wife, Alice Gerrard, and as "Hazel & Alice" recorded two albums for the Folkways label: "Who's That Knocking (And Other Bluegrass Country Music) (1965)" and "Won't You Come & Sing for Me (1973)". In this regard, Dickens and Gerrard were bluegrass bandleaders at a time when the vast majority of bluegrass bands were led by men.
Dickens appeared in the documentary Harlan County, USA and also contributed four songs to the soundtrack of the same film. She has also appeared in the film Matewan.
Dickins continues to record and perform all of her life. Her voice is among the most powerful and moving of all bluegrass singers, male or female.
Hazel Dickens died April 22, 2011 at the Washington Home hospice in the District. She was 75 and had complications from pneumonia. Bless you old girl.
The Green Rolling Hills of West Virginia
Hazel Dickens Lyrics
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Are the nearest thing to heaven that I know
Though the times are sad and drear and I cannot linger here
They'll keep me and never let me go.
My daddy said don't ever be a miner
or a miner's grave is all you'll ever own
There's hard times everywhere I can't find a dime to spare
So I'll move away into some crowded city
In some northern factory town you'll find me there
Though I'll leave the past behind 'll never change my mind
These troubled times are more than I can bear.
Someday I'll go back to West Virginia
To those green rolling hills I love so well
Oh someday I'll go home and I know I'll right the wrong
And these hard times will follow me no more.
The lyrics to Hazel Dickens's song, The Green Rolling Hills of West Virginia, evoke strong feelings of longing, sadness, and a deep connection to home. The opening line sets the tone for the rest of the song, emphasizing the beauty and majesty of the West Virginia hills. The singer expresses a sense of nostalgia and a desire to return home, even in the face of difficult and trying circumstances.
The second stanza introduces a note of caution and concern, as the singer's father warns against the dangers of the mining industry. The hard times of poverty and struggle are referenced again, painting a picture of a community that is struggling to make ends meet. Despite this, the singer remains committed to their home and vows to return someday.
The final stanza offers a glimmer of hope and optimism, as the singer envisions a future where they have overcome their hardships and made peace with their past. The repetition of the phrase "someday I'll go back to West Virginia" highlights the importance of home and speaks to a universal human desire for roots and a sense of belonging.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh the green rolling hills of West Virginia
The singer is introducing the subject matter, West Virginia's rolling hills, as something dear to her.
Are the nearest thing to heaven that I know
The singer thinks that West Virginia's rolling hills are the closest thing to paradise or heaven that she can think of.
Though the times are sad and drear and I cannot linger here
Even though times are tough and depressing in West Virginia, the rolling hills will always hold a special place in the singer's heart.
They'll keep me and never let me go.
The rolling hills of West Virginia will always remain important to the artist and will never lose their significance to her.
My daddy said don't ever be a miner
The artist's father advised her to stay away from mining jobs.
or a miner's grave is all you'll ever own
The singer's father warned her that working as a miner would be dangerous and could lead to death.
There's hard times everywhere I can't find a dime to spare
The singer is struggling financially and can't find any extra money.
These are the worst times I've ever known
The artist is going through a tough time and it's the hardest period she has ever experienced.
So I'll move away into some crowded city
The artist has decided to leave West Virginia for a busy urban area.
In some northern factory town you'll find me there
The artist believes she will likely end up in a factory town in the northern region of the country.
Though I'll leave the past behind 'll never change my mind
Even though she is leaving her past behind, the singer still holds onto her pride and her memories of West Virginia's rolling hills.
These troubled times are more than I can bear.
The artist is struggling to cope with her current situation and needs to make a change to move on.
Someday I'll go back to West Virginia
The singer plans to return to West Virginia at some point in the future.
To those green rolling hills I love so well
The singer is looking forward to seeing and reconnecting with the rolling green hills of West Virginia that she adores.
Oh someday I'll go home and I know I'll right the wrong
The singer feels that she left something behind and wants to go back and make amends or fix what she feels went wrong.
And these hard times will follow me no more.
The artist has faith that after returning to West Virginia, her hardships will be over and she won't have to struggle any longer.
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