The Folks Who Live On The Hill
The George Shearing Quintet Lyrics
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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 fam'ly 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 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 who like to be called,
What they have always been called,
"The folks who live on the hill".
The George Shearing Quintet's song "The Folks Who Live on the Hill" is a wistful and romantic piece about a simple life and a long-lasting love. The song is structured around the comparison between those with "lofty aims" and those content to play "smaller games." The singer identifies as the latter and expresses a desire to find a piece of land and build a home with his beloved. The song's central image is the image of this home, perched atop a hill with a view of the surrounding countryside. The image of the hilltop home represents stability, contentment, and a long-term commitment to a shared life together.
The second verse of the song expands upon this idea, suggesting that while the couple may make changes to their home over the years, they will always be known as "the folks who live on the hill." The song's final stanza brings the image of the "hilltop home" into even starker focus, describing the veranda that will command a view of "meadows green." The song ends with a bittersweet image of an elderly couple, "Darby and Joan," sitting on the same veranda and looking at the same view they have enjoyed for years.
"The Folks Who Live on the Hill" is a beautifully crafted song that speaks to the desire for simplicity, stability, and enduring love. The image of the hilltop home, with its commanding view and cozy cottage, is a potent symbol of these aspirations. The song's lyrics are simple yet poignant, capturing the essence of a long-lasting love story in just a few short stanzas.
Line by Line Meaning
Many men with lofty aims,
There are a lot of people with high aspirations,
Strive for lofty goals,
And they aim for big achievements,
Others play at smaller games,
While some people find joy in simpler things,
Being simpler souls.
And are content with less.
I am of the latter brand;
I belong to the latter group,
All I want to do,
And all I desire,
Is to find a spot of land,
Is to locate a piece of property,
And live there with you.
And reside there with you.
Someday we'll build a home on a hilltop high,
Eventually we'll construct a house on a summit,
You and I,
Together,
Shiny and new a cottage that two can fill.
A brand new bright cottage we can share,
And we'll be pleased to be called,
And we'll happily accept to be known as,
"The folks who live on the hill".
"The folks who reside on the hill".
Someday we may be adding a thing or two,
Possibly, we could add a few things,
A wing or two.
Maybe some additional rooms,
We will make changes as any fam'ly will,
Like any family, we'll make some alterations,
But we will always be called,
However, we will always be referred to as,
"The folks who live on the hill".
"The folks who reside on the hill".
Our veranda will command a view of meadows green,
Our porch will have a spectacular view of green fields,
The sort of view that seems to want to be seen.
The kind of vista that seems to be begging to be observed.
And when the kids grow up and leave us,
And when the children grow and move out,
We'll sit and look at the same old view,
We'll sit and gaze at the unchanging view,
Just we two.
Just the two of us.
Darby and Joan who used to be Jack and Jill,
Like the old couple Darby and Joan who used to be Jack and Jill,
The folks who like to be called,
"The folks who prefer to be known as"
What they have always been called,
What they have been called before,
"The folks who live on the hill".
"The folks who reside on the hill".
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jerome Kern, Oscar II Hammerstein
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind