The Merrimack - written by Beth Wimmer
Produced by Beth Wimmer & Mike Bischof. From the EP "Nature" (18. August 2023)
https://bethwimmer.com/
Beth Wimmer - vocals, acoustic guitar
Mike Bischof - electric guitar
Recorded and mixed by Sacha Love, in Studio de la Fonderie, Fribourg Switzerland
Mastered by Daniel Thomann, Tonstudio Ulmiz, Switzerland
Cover Art & Design by Francesca Marcon
LYRICS
The Merrimack - by Beth Wimmer
My name’s Mary Gold, my story’s been told, it’s time now i tell it myself
you might think i’m crazy, by the river i stay, see the river delivered my hell
In 2005 the land here was dry, the Merrimack cracked and it bled
all summer next year, sky never cleared - the rain pelted for months on our heads
My boy’s name was Tom, he was smart he was strong
he brought meaning and laughter to life
12 years with no man, then we met Dan - he loved us and made me his wife
Refrain -
And oh, i never thought i could die, and still walk around in my shell
my kin think i’m crazed by the river to stay, ‘cause the river delivered my hell
Tom and Dan built a dock in the silt where the Merrimack brushed by our land
they worked hard 20 days, then we star-gazed
from that dock that they built with their hands
Summer so hot, all the rain we got swelled the Merrimack, soaked us in sweat
but we didn’t mind, my family and i, we had peace we had love heaven sent
Refrain -
but oh, i didn’t know i could die, and still float around in my shell
friends think i’m crazy by the river i stay, see the river delivered my hell
September fourth, the god-be-damned storm made us scurry, securing the house
Tom ran to the dock, a boat to unlock as the Merrimack thrashed it about
I squinted at him, he saw me and grinned - i still see the soaked shirt on his back
then a whole tree rushed by on God’s river so high
swept my Tom into the Merrimack
Dan saw it too, to the river he flew, didn’t hesitate maybe didn’t think
Dan jumped right in, i knew both boys could swim but i felt my heart starting to sink
I ran down the shore couldn’t see them no more, my legs getting cut by the brush
I screamed for my boys until i lost my voice, and my papa found me in the woods
And oh... i guess right there i did die, but i still float around in this shell
kin say i’m crazed by the river to stay, ‘cause the river delivered me hell
Family stayed close while the Newburyport coast searched up and down to the bay
next day they were found with their arms around one another - in a brothers’ embrace
Yeah they were found, dead - with their arms ‘round each other, clinging for life
i feel their souls right here in our home, i still feel like a mom and a wife
Oh i didn’t know i could die, and still walk around in my shell...
i’ll live in this mud, holds my family’s blood
and i think i’m coping well
The Merrimack
More information
Added on 12 September 2023
Credits and thanks
The Merrimack - written by Beth Wimmer
Produced by Beth Wimmer & Mike Bischof. From the EP "Nature" (18. August 2023)
https://bethwimmer.com/
Beth Wimmer - vocals, acoustic guitar
Mike Bischof - electric guitar
Recorded and mixed by Sacha Love, in Studio de la Fonderie, Fribourg Switzerland
Mastered by Daniel Thomann, Tonstudio Ulmiz, Switzerland
Cover Art & Design by Francesca Marcon
LYRICS
The Merrimack - by Beth Wimmer
My name’s Mary Gold, my story’s been told, it’s time now i tell it myself
you might think i’m crazy, by the river i stay, see the river delivered my hell
In 2005 the land here was dry, the Merrimack cracked and it bled
all summer next year, sky never cleared - the rain pelted for months on our heads
My boy’s name was Tom, he was smart he was strong
he brought meaning and laughter to life
12 years with no man, then we met Dan - he loved us and made me his wife
Refrain -
And oh, i never thought i could die, and still walk around in my shell
my kin think i’m crazed by the river to stay, ‘cause the river delivered my hell
Tom and Dan built a dock in the silt where the Merrimack brushed by our land
they worked hard 20 days, then we star-gazed
from that dock that they built with their hands
Summer so hot, all the rain we got swelled the Merrimack, soaked us in sweat
but we didn’t mind, my family and i, we had peace we had love heaven sent
Refrain -
but oh, i didn’t know i could die, and still float around in my shell
friends think i’m crazy by the river i stay, see the river delivered my hell
September fourth, the god-be-damned storm made us scurry, securing the house
Tom ran to the dock, a boat to unlock as the Merrimack thrashed it about
I squinted at him, he saw me and grinned - i still see the soaked shirt on his back
then a whole tree rushed by on God’s river so high
swept my Tom into the Merrimack
Dan saw it too, to the river he flew, didn’t hesitate maybe didn’t think
Dan jumped right in, i knew both boys could swim but i felt my heart starting to sink
I ran down the shore couldn’t see them no more, my legs getting cut by the brush
I screamed for my boys until i lost my voice, and my papa found me in the woods
And oh... i guess right there i did die, but i still float around in this shell
kin say i’m crazed by the river to stay, ‘cause the river delivered me hell
Family stayed close while the Newburyport coast searched up and down to the bay
next day they were found with their arms around one another - in a brothers’ embrace
Yeah they were found, dead - with their arms ‘round each other, clinging for life
i feel their souls right here in our home, i still feel like a mom and a wife
Oh i didn’t know i could die, and still walk around in my shell...
i’ll live in this mud, holds my family’s blood
and i think i’m coping well
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