Shadowland

(Music & Lyrics © Ronald D. Crowder)

ASCAP 

My parents were older when I was born. They were members of what has been called by many the greatest generation. My father was a World War II veteran. That put a certain slant on my view of the world from a very young age that was very different from that of the kids my age who were around me. My parents actually met during World War II, when my father was home from basic training. Their courtship took place while he was over in Europe, fighting the war. It took place through letters that they wrote back-and-forth. My mom would receive letters from my dad and most of the words would be blacked out, so as to not give away any details about where they were at any given time. This song is, for me, a sort of time capsule of that period.

Listen to song

Darling Anne, Can you remember when 

You first met the man you were gonna wed?

 

He handed you a rose and you knew 

Life could be anything you chose 

As long as you said your prayers, 

Faithfully, and repaired into this shadowland

 

When ’45 arrived the papers made it known 

A conquered Reich meant Ike would bring the boys home 

Notes that he sent across the sea with his love 

Were planted like seeds inside your heart 

Never to be outgrown 

Inevitably you were thrown into this shadowland 

When you were just a young girl 

All your life was an open book 

Too many fingers in the till 

Innocence goes quickly 

When what you’ve got ain’t really yours 

The weight would leave you standing still 

A band playing “I’ll Be Seeing You” makes you cry 

Still with your hand across your heart 

He wipes away all your tears 

With tenderness so sincere 

You gracefully disappear… 

Into this shadowland 

Into this shadowland 

Into this shadowland 

Into this shadowland

- End -

Lead Sheet PDF Download

Lyrics PDF Download

Contact

Stefani

(505) 270-0594

roncrowdermusic@gmail.com