Buffalo Ballet
Echoes of Abilene: Unveiling the Tales of Sleep in the Midday Sun
Lyrics
When Abilene was young and gay
Describes a time when Abilene was youthful and lively.
And thunder storms filled up the days
Highlights a period of frequent thunderstorms.
The cattle roam outside the town
Cattle freely roam outside the town.
Sleeping in the midday sun
Repetition emphasizing the theme of sleeping in the midday sun.
Sleeping in the midday sun
-Sleeping in the midday sun
-Sleeping in the midday sun
-Then tracks were laid across the plain
Mentions the laying of tracks across the plain.
By broken old men in torrid rain
Describes the labor of broken old men in torrid rain.
The towns grew up, and the people were still
Towns developed, but people remained static.
Sleeping in the midday sun
Reiteration of the theme of sleeping in the midday sun.
Sleeping in the midday sun
-Sleeping in the midday sun
-Sleeping in the midday sun
-We all joined in
Describes collective efforts to run and cultivate the land.
(And) We all joined hands
-We all joined in
-To help run this land
-Then the soldiers came, long long ago
Historical reference to soldiers who caused destruction in the town.
Rode through the town
-And mowed down those
-Sleeping in the midday sun
Reiteration of the theme of sleeping, suggesting obliviousness to danger.
Sleeping in the midday sun
-Sleeping in the midday sun
-Sleeping in the midday sun
-Gold came and went, quickly spent
Gold rush and its transient nature, quickly spent.
And the people broke down
People suffered from the consequences of wealth and pain in old Abilene.
And often drowned
-From the wealth and the pain
-Of old Abilene
-Sleeping in the midday sun
Repetition of the theme of sleeping, indicating a persistent state of unawareness.
Sleeping in the midday sun
-Sleeping in the midday sun
-Sleeping in the midday sun
-Sleeping in the midday sun
Final repetition, possibly emphasizing a continuous cycle of ignorance.
Sleeping in the midday sun
-Sleeping in the midday sun
-Sleeping in the midday sun
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