(Ac)cor(di)ona / Over The Hills

© Maria Dunn, 2022 / Traditional

Arranged M. Dunn, S. Johnson, J. McDade, S. McDade / Tune arranged S. Johnson

During the pandemic, friends mailed me a newspaper article reporting an alarming rise in mail order accordions, purchased by people wanting to learn to play during lockdown. The term “bellows” not being known for its quiet connotations, and drawing no inspiration whatsoever from my own musical misadventures, I imagined being the family member of such a keen learner!

An ode to all parents, loved ones or roommates who live with and encourage a budding musician. 

**

I thought I loved my family, that all was going well

We’d weather the pandemic from the cozy place we dwell

A delivery van the first sign all might go awry

For the virus and the lockdown meant I couldn’t get away

Had I known the box’s contents, had my x-ray glasses on

I might have used a hammer before it all went wrong

But my grown child assured me, from their youth’s first blush

They’d adored an accordion before their dreams were crushed

And, oh they love, love, love it! their passion shining through

What’s a nurturing parent supposed to ever do?

There’s a limit to the times you can jovially say

Please love play my favourite: Over the Hills and Far Away

An accordion so cherished in their granny’s wardrobe stayed

So, they ordered one just like it to remind them of those days

Now, any other coming out from closets you would greet

With love and understanding, celebrate your child complete

But this very strange attraction to an instrument so loud

Astonished me full stop, too shocked a parent to be proud

I’m all about the bellows when it comes to clearing rooms

But it’s pushing all my buttons these incessant jigging tunes

Desperate, I bargain: Could you study something else?

How about a language? Nêhiyawêwin, Gaeilge, Welsh

And, oh my dearest child, did it have to come to this?

I can see there’s a weight you need to get off your chest

It might’ve been the bagpipes, the fiddle or the flute

The bongos or the banjo, blessings that you may dispute

When it comes to new technology, I’m generally immune

And I know that cancel culture can be problematic too

But another box arrived today—my new headphones

To shut out all the noise, save our happy home

Oh, I love, love, love it, no blast is whining through

It’s what a nurturing parent may have to finally do

There’s a limit to the times you can jovially say

Please love play my favourite: O’er the hills and far away

Maria Dunn  vocal, accordion

Shannon Johnson  violin

Jeremiah McDade  whistle, acoustic guitar

Solon McDade  upright bass

Pub vocals: Joel Gray, Jeremiah McDade