words by Jim Brannigan
music ... The tune is taken from "Gramma's Letter" which is a beautiful piece of writing in itself. The music however, is a well sandpapered version of "Bobby McGhee" with maybe a couple of other tunes in it here and there.
You can hear it on "The Hills of Margaree" album or have a quick listen on "Jim Brannigan's Favourites" at CD Baby

THE HILLS OF MARGAREE

Well I hope that you can read these words
We both know my writing's not too good
And I trust this letter finds you
Living in that same suburban neighbourhood
And I finally found the time
To sit me down and maybe try to let you see
How happy we could both be
Living in the lovely hills of Margaree

Last night I heard an owl cry
And so I took a walk outside
And saw the northern lights dance lightly
High above a wild Cape Breton Sky
Felt the north west wind blow softly
All along the valley from the sea
And from my doorway watched the moonrise
High above the hills of Margaree

And I didn't sleep too well you know
I missed you more than words can say last night
Til finally I heard a songbird
Singing to the coming morning light
And I know if you could be here now
It wouldn't take too much to let you see
The blessed Lord Himself
Alive and breathing in the hills of Margaree

For a troubadour sometimes you know
How I can be so quiet in my way
And it's never really bothered me
To be alone and to pass the time of day
But lately I've been lonely dear
And thinking how much happier I'd be
If we could spend one day together
In the lovely hills of Margaree.


That evening by the fireside
You played on the fiddle, soft and low
And I took out my old guitar
It seems so very long ago
Now every violin I hear
Reminds me how much happier I'd be
If we could only be together
In the lovely hills of Margaree


And I know that you were happy
Long before I ever came to pass your way
And even though you wanted to
You never really tried to make me stay
And I don't have the right to ask
If you would ever come along with me
But still I wish that we could be
Together in the hills of Margaree

And I know that you can read these words
Even though my writing's not too good
And I'm sure this letter finds you
Living in that same suburban neighbourhood
And I finally found the time to sit me down
And maybe try to let you see
How happy we could both be
Living in the lovely hills of Margaree
Oh how happy we could both be
Living in the lovely hills of Margaree

Just in case we didn't get back together, I wrote
a contingency verse to replace the last one......


And I know that you can read these words
Even though my writing's not too good
And I'm sure this letter finds you
Living in that same suburban neighbourhood
And if you ever find the time
To sit awhile and maybe think of me
Remember I'll be thinking of you
In the lovely hills of Margaree
Oh remember I'll be thinking of you
In the lovely hills of Margaree.


This ending was a little too "Country" for my
liking, so I married the girl.