The Rugged Hills of Landenberg was inspired by a poem by C. Edwin Smith from a 1936 news clipping that Eleanor Lafferty Sadot kept as a bookmark from her childhood days. (Lyrics below!) She shared the poem with her grown children when she found it still being used as a bookmark after all those years. In the poem Edwin Smith was dying and his last wish was to live long enough to see Landenberg in the autumn one last time. According to the legend as told by Eleanor Sadot he did live to enjoy the autumn and had the pleasure of having his poem applauded in the local rural circles when it was published in a local newspaper and read by the teachers and students like Eleanor Lafferty in the Kennett Square, PA schools. Vic’s song inspired by Edwin Smith's poem is a tribute to his mother, Eleanor Lafferty Sadot. Vic's song celebrates all the wonder of all the seasons, and each season gets a verse. The song salutes his mother’s roots as a farm girl growing up on Mercer Mill Road and attending a one room school house for 8 grades. Eleanor attended the 1990 Landenberg Day events along the White Clay Creek at which Vic first performed the song. Vic was accompanied by Lester Craig Maurer on the fiddle, who created the music and concept of The Frog Jog, and was a founding member of C. P. Swampgrass with Vic and Joe Sadot. The song was lovingly dedicated to Eleanor Lafferty that day. The Last FM version of The Rugged Hills of Landenberg was released on a Limited Edition home burn CD of studio recordings titled "Songs of the Seasons", a romantic, poetic, and environmentally green and engaged set of songs. The Rugged Hills of Landenberg was recorded by Dean A Banks. Vic Sadot sings and plays acoustic guitar. Rob Sadot graces the song with a sweet country soul style of electric guitar.
The Rugged Hills of Landenberg
The rugged hills of Landenberg, robed in rolling shades of green
Challenge us to wander thru the woodland summer scene
Where children laugh and splash away endless days down by the stream
And lovers stroll to the music of the rippling water’s theme
Chorus #1
Oh the rippling waters theme… And the way it makes you dream…
Oh the rippling waters theme… And the way it makes you dream…
The rugged hills of Landenberg of my mother’s childhood days
Must be the inspiration for her persevering ways
Yes, they must be the source of wholesome values that she shows
In the love she has to offer and how generously it flows
Chorus #2
Oh how generously it flows! Oh how generously it flows!
And how genuinely it shows the rugged hills of Landenberg!
Oh rugged hills, we know your raiment will soon turn to autumn’s hues
And we know the price of progress cause we’ve seen what we can lose
Still I hope we have the vision! Still I hope we have the will!
To be Guardians of these wildlands that still flourish in these hills!
Chorus #3
Oh they flourish in these hills!
How they flourish in these hills!
Oh, the wild and rugged hills!
The rugged hills of Landenberg!
The rugged hills of Landenberg become majestic robed in white!
When the snowflakes come a’tumblin’ from the heavens hazy height…
May it stun you into wonder of a rare and pure delight!
May these rugged hills inspire you to keep your spirit burning bright!
Chorus #4
Keep your spirit burning bright!
Let it ride the misty light!
Through the rugged hills tonight!
The rugged hills of Landenberg!
Copyright 1990 Vic Sadot, BMI, Orbian Love Music
