Daniel Lanois

Silium's Hill

Daniel Lanois


Shoe Shine Mamma 
Spits for her money 
Wants to make a living 
Try to make her own 

All she ever wanted was to 
make her own money and 
settle down on Silium's Hill 

She prayed by the water on Manitou Bay 
Sipping ambrosia on a holy night 
Counting the lovers that had passed her way 
They could not see her on Silium's Hill 

On a frozen lamp pole I scratch her name - 
With my rusty old penknife 
on a empty heart 
Standing by the window, is that you out there 
at the Southern Cross over Silium's Hill 

Oh, baby will you ride with me 
Through the wheat towns to Medicine Hat 
When the cold winds blow I'll be there 
I'll hang on tight, baby sure go for that 

Now the old man knocks at my front door, 
Shoe Shine Mamma isn't here anymore 
There's a stranger in my place 
looking out over Silium's Way... 

Listen to the humming of the railway cars 
My hands frozen on the wheel 
600 miles away from home 
running on the shadow of Silium's Hill 

Somewhere back on Church Street 
Shoe Shine Mamma spits for her money 
Trying to make a living, wanna make her own 
Down at the bottom of Silium's Hill 

Mamma wanna build her own 
down at the bottom of Silium's Hill