Rebecca's Song Verse 1 In Hilperton town where the church bells ring Rebecca Hill was born in the early spring Seventeen-ninety, baptized with care A daughter blessed with love to share The Wiltshire fields were her childhood home Where she would learn and she would roam Verse 2 John Rich came calling in eighteen-fifteen The finest man she'd ever seen By banns they married in February's light Two hearts as one, their future bright She signed her mark with trembling hand To build a life in England's land Chorus Rebecca, Rebecca, strong and true Mother of eleven, with a heart so new Through joy and sorrow, through loss and gain In Hilperton you did remain Your legacy lives on today In the children who found their way Verse 3 The babies came like seasons turning James and Ann, her heart was yearning Little John and William, taken too soon Beneath the pale and silent moon But Jesse, Hannah, Emma too And more sweet children, love grew through Chorus Rebecca, Rebecca, strong and true Mother of eleven, with a heart so new Through joy and sorrow, through loss and gain In Hilperton you did remain Your legacy lives on today In the children who found their way Verse 4 The weaver's life was hard but honest Threads and shuttles, work the longest Census years marked time's slow dance Fifty-five, then more by chance Sixty-three and still she stood Beside her John, for ill or good Bridge Some sailed away to distant shores Wales and America opened doors But Rebecca's roots ran deep and strong In Hilperton where she belonged Through seven decades she remained Where first her baby breath was gained Chorus Rebecca, Rebecca, strong and true Mother of eleven, with a heart so new Through joy and sorrow, through loss and gain In Hilperton you did remain Your legacy lives on today In the children who found their way Outro March seventh, eighteen-sixty-two At seventy-eight, her work was through In Hilperton's churchyard she sleeps While history her memory keeps Rebecca Rich, forever blessed In England's soil, she found her rest
