The Folks Who Live On The Hill
Jo Stafford Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Strive for lofty goals,
Others play at smaller games,
Being simpler souls.
I am of the latter brand;
All I want to do,
Is to find a spot of land,
Someday we'll build a home on a hilltop high,
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.
We will make changes as any family will,
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 view 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 who like to be called,
What they have always been called,
"The folks who live on the hill".
The lyrics of this song speak to the simplicity of life and the desire for a peaceful and serene existence. The first stanza sets the tone for the song, with the statement that some people strive for lofty goals, while others are content with simpler lives. The singer of the song identifies with the latter group, stating that all they want is to find a spot of land and live there with their loved one.
The second stanza of the song reveals the dream of the singer and their partner to build a home on a hilltop. The imagery of a “shiny and new cottage” that two people can fill speaks to the idea of creating and building a life together. The phrase “the folks who live on the hill” suggests a sense of belonging and identity that comes with settling down in a particular place.
The final stanza of the song speaks to the idea of aging and growing old together. The singer envisions a future in which they sit on their veranda and enjoy the same view they have always enjoyed, even after their kids have grown up and left home. The reference to Darby and Joan, who used to be known as Jack and Jill, is a nod to the idea of growing old together and weathering the ups and downs of life as a couple. Overall, the lyrics of this song speak to the desire for a simple and fulfilling life in which love and family are at the forefront.
Line by Line Meaning
Many men with lofty aims,
There are many men who aim for grand, significant things.
Strive for lofty goals,
These men work hard to achieve great accomplishments.
Others play at smaller games,
On the other hand, there are those who have simpler desires and goals.
Being simpler souls.
These people are content with less complicated lifestyles.
I am of the latter brand;
I am one of those simpler souls who are satisfied with a modest life.
All I want to do,
There is only one thing I truly desire.
Is to find a spot of land,
I want to locate a piece of property that's just right for me.
And live there with you.
I want to share this land and my life with someone I love.
Someday we'll build a home on a hilltop high,
Eventually, we will construct a dwelling in an elevated location.
You and I,
The two of us will undertake this project together.
Shiny and new a cottage that two can fill.
Our new home will be fresh and we'll be able to furnish it simply since it won't have a lot of extra space.
And we'll be pleased to be called,
It will make us happy if we are recognized as
"The folks who live on the hill".
the people living in the beautiful home on the hill.
Someday we may be adding a thing or two,
Perhaps in the future, we'll decide to make a few small modifications to our home.
A wing or two.
This might include an additional room or two.
We will make changes as any family will,
Like any other family, we'll want to make our home suit our needs and lifestyle as it changes over time.
But we will always be called,
Regardless of any changes we make, we'll still always be recognized as
"The folks who live on the hill".
the charming family residing on the picturesque hilltop.
Our veranda will command a view of meadows green,
We'll be able to see beautiful, lush meadows from our porch.
The sort of view that seems to want to be seen.
This outlook is so picturesque that it seems to be asking to be gazed at.
And when the kids grow up and leave us,
When our children mature and leave our care,
We'll sit and look at the same old view,
We'll be content to sit and enjoy the same beautiful view we've always had.
Just we two.
The two of us will be together in a peaceful and serene environment.
Darby and Joan who used to be Jack and Jill,
We will be an elderly couple who have gone through many years together.
The folks who like to be called,
We would be pleased to be called
What they have always been called,
as we always have been recognized as
"The folks who live on the hill".
the happy couple residing on the breathtaking hilltop.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jerome Kern, Oscar II Hammerstein
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind