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Heading For Home

from Heading For Home by Peggy Seeger

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about

HEADING FOR HOME

words and music: Peggy Seeger © 1999 Peggy Seeger, administered by Bucks Music

I wrote this song after meeting Crystal Nicholas, of Greene, Maine. in October 1999. Crystal is a painter - when I asked her what she painted she told me she paints Maine. At my behest, she sent me some slides of her work plus some examples of the work of other Maine painters. Whilst looking at these wonderful and imaginative images of a state that I seldom visit, I was blessed with a vision. Sounds melodramatic but it was definitely a vision of my place in the universe, small and precious only as we all are to ourselves and to our friends, family, acquaintances and workmates. I felt as if I was looking at pictures of home. Feeling my age, I felt less afraid of going on (back?) to the Real Home from whence we come. The song began its life with four verses, which I sang for the first time on a radio show in Chicago. My friend and agent, Josh Dunson, was present and he felt that the song was missing political and social involvement. He elaborated and I distilled his suggestions into verse 3, which I believe made the song complete. Thank you, Josh. (Peggy Seeger)

5-string BANJO TUNING: sung in the key of Eb; tuning: low Bb, low Eb. low Bb, D, F - so Eb; when recording, I put a 3rd string in 5th-string position so that the low Bb on the 5th string (which matches the pitch on the 3rd string) will not buzz. If you don't do that and just tune the 5th string down then you will have to play very gently so that the string doesn't buzz and go out of tune.

lyrics

My face to the sky, my back to the wind
Winter is entering my bones
The day has been long, night's drawing in
And I'm thinking of heading for home. (2)

The cradle and grave, the fruit and the seed,
The seasons mirror my own
The geese flying south are calling to me
And I'm thinking of heading for home. (2)

Always on the move with banner unfurled,
Yet gathering moss on the stone,
I sing for the children and cry for the world
And I'm thinking of heading for home (2)


As Time's my old friend and Death's my new kin
I'm not taking the journey alone,
I am old, I am young, I am all that I've been
And I'm thinking of heading for home. (2)

The memory of love will burn in my heart
Till embers and ashes are gone,
The light in your window is my northern star
And I'm thinking of heading for home. (2)
And it's time I was heading for home, (2)

credits

from Heading For Home, released October 7, 2003

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Peggy Seeger Oxford, UK

Peggy is one of the most influential folk singers on either side of the Atlantic. She is Pete Seeger’s half-sister and Ruth Crawford Seeger’s daughter; her first life partner was the English songwriter Ewan MacColl, who wrote First Time Ever I Saw Your Face for her. She has made more than 22 solo recordings to date. Please check ewanmaccoll.bandcamp.com for other albums featuring Peggy. ... more

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