Stonewalls and Fences: Lyrics and the Story Behind the Song

This song is a blending of my memories of two very special family farms in New Hampshire. These places are sacred spaces—buffered from the outside world by thick acres of trees.

In the town of Canterbury, there is a family farm hidden deep in the woods. Many years ago, my family and friends gathered there for dinners, craft-making, singing, contra dancing, and so many special activities.

One cold afternoon, my boys and I helped gather sap from the maple trees. It was clear, like water, and had frozen into circles in the bottom of the buckets. Every young helper could be seen holding the frozen disks with fuzzy mittens and sucking on them like lollipops.

Hopkinton, New Hampshire, is the location of another special family farm. Every week, my boys and I would drive there and pick up an assortment of milk, yogurt, kefir, whey, and eggs. The boys would take turns swinging on the rope swing, and the cows would wander the fields looking disinterested but flicking their ears around to hear the happy giggling.

Song Lyrics

This farm is bordered by stone walls and fences.
Cows roam the great, green fields
Contemplating future meals.

(And) this land is guarded by cold, rushing water,
A river, deep and wide,
Waves, too fast to catch and ride.

And, in the early Spring
When maples swell with sap,
(We’ll) light the fire, form a ring,
Heat the stones, and drop them in.
Close your eyes, and make a wish
In the sweet, sweet water.

This life is lived behind tall trees and
Mountainsides,
A forest, thick with pine,
Rocks, too steep and slick to climb.

Let’s gather together,
And watch the sunset bloom.
Hang our clothes from the branches,
And dive, dive under the moon. Oh,
Oh, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm . . .

This farm is bordered by stone walls and fences.
Let’s roam the great, green fields
And let our senses reel,
Feel our senses heal.
Oh, woh, oh, oh, oh . . .

Song Credits

Holly Hanson: vocals
Steve Hayes: acoustic guitar
David Eure: violin
Sven Larson: upright bass
Zeke Martin: percussion

Written by Holly Hanson. © 2011 Wild Braid Music (BMI). All rights reserved.

Stonewalls & Fences appears on the album Strawberry Moon by Neptune's Car.