To Be Free

Vineland, New Jersey

Farmland stretchin'

Far as the eye can see

Not much down there, but

Sun-scorched pastures in 1953

The war is over

And they came searching

For a place to be

They left the Rhineland

They lost their homeland

And all their family

Like feathers on the ocean breeze

They went spinning and tumbling across the sea

Never know where they'd come down

Or who they'd be

Like heather on the hillside

They were bruised and they were battered by the breeze

Searching for a place to be free

Sunburned summers and frostbite winters

The kids were plainly dressed

Left the farmhouse when he was old enough

And headed out west

From California to Southern Africa

And all the way to France

And on to England to meet my mother

In 1981

A feather on the ocean breeze

He went spinning and tumbling 'cross the sea

Never knowin' where he'd come down

Or who he'd be

Like heather on the hillside

He was spruced and he was battered by the breeze

Searching for a place to be free

Oh, and like a seed that is flyin' in the wind

In search of water, soil and sun

And the birds and the bees to have it all along

Now here I am

Thirty three years down

2017

I've seen the Rhineland, I've

Been to Vineland, I'm

A feather on the breeze