the Home Place won IBMA song of the year by Laurie Lewis.

WHO WILL WATCH THE HOME PLACE

by Kate Long

(Verse)
G G C G /
Leaves are falling and turning in showers of gold
G G D7 D7/
As the postman climbs up our long hill
G G G C /
And there's sympathy written all over his face
Am Am D7 D7/
As he hands me a couple more bills.

(Chorus)
G Am G G /
Who will watch the home place
C C Am D7/
Who will tend my heart's dear space
G Am G C /
Who will fill my empty place
G D7 G G/
When I am gone from here?

There's a lovely green knoll by a clear running stream
It was my place when I was quite small
And it's pictures and sounds could soothe my worst pains
But today they don't ease me at all.

In my grandfather's shed there are hundreds of tools
I know them by feel and by name
And like parts of my body they've patched this old place
When I move them they won't be the same.

Now I wander around touching each blessed thing
The chimney, the table, the trees
And my memories swirl 'round me like birds on the wing
When I leave here, oh who will I be?