this is my countryside

911... i remember the events of the day clearly... it was an idle tuesday... i was working from home... it was warm and sunny outside... my mom happened to stop by my house for some reason... she wasn't sure why; since it was very uncommon for me to work at home in general; but she pulled up to the house after a visit to the dentist anyway...

she came inside all confused and said she just heard on the radio that a plane crashed into the world trade center... i was in disbelief... turned on the tv and stared sadly as i watched the towers fall one by one... the same buildings i had stood at the top of a year prior...

i knew the tragedy taking place... the terrible number of people that frequent those towers every day... the number of people doomed to die that day… my heart sank... the whole world seemed to be in dishevelment... as the towers crumbled… a bird flew erratically from the sky and hit my living room window; coming to end with i'ts fate too… it was strange… the death, the whirlwind of events that feverishly took place that morning and continued into the next months, years; setting off a series of events that still impact us to this day…

***

I wrote the song countryside for my father in fondness and joy of remembering how wonderful it was to grow up in the countryside outside a small town in Michigan... freedom has always been a great privilege and gift to me as I grew up a member of one of the state's last remaining small one-room schoolhouses… living the American dream in a small town where til this day, friday night football is first and foremost... what a great country we belong to - with that spirit of America tucked in every corner of a small town.

This song has never been cut; and this version playing on my page is a simple acoustic recording… no edits... no frills... just janel, jenny and I with jenny's guitar.

May God bless you and yours ~ never forget. i'm thankful to sleep in peace another night as our countrymen/women continue to protect us in lieu of such tragedies... to my father; a countryman too...

- jill marshon



Countryside
© jill marshon seidelman secen/BMI

I grew up on this countryside
Spent summer days in the fields running wild
Nothing but pure country and blue skies stretched for miles
I was blessed to be raised in love on this countryside

Young adult growing up took me out of this town
Nothing like the city lights to turn you around
Don't mind the peaceful quiet nights are so sound
God's Grace, He shines His light on this countryside
Would you stand here beside me
Would you lay down your pride
Can you see what's inside me
That this land's brought to life
I want to live here together til my life passes by
Then I'll lay here forever on this countryside
I worked the fields, I made a life on this land
Built my home here with my family and friends
I've made my living from this earth in my hands
It's a dream come shinning true inside of this man

As my days pass by I notice the time
The memories shine so bright they hide the fine lines
Through summer, winter, fall, I spring back again
I raise my head up tall, this lands' who I am
And when my days are done, night lay's me to rest
It's here I've love the most, it's life at it's best
My family, home and trade think I've passed the test
This heaven on earth prepares me for what is next
I will stand and deliver until time passes by
Then I'll lay here forever on this countryside