Verde Valley, Emerald In the Desert

 

 

I wrote this song about the Verde Valley in 2016, inspired by the year-round Verde River and it's lush greenbelt of cottonwoods and sycamores—a sharp contrast to the surrounding desert hills. My friend Dianne Springfield accompanied me on cello. 

Verde Valley, Emerald in the Desert
Vicky Oldham © 2016

[VERSE 1]
A river winds across this desert valley,
Trees and vineyards follow where it goes.
Lush and green by summer, turning gold by fall,
This is the Verde Valley, so fair and beautiful...

[CHORUS]
Verde Valley, Verde Valley,
An emerald in the desert, where the river goes,
While eagles soar above, this place I know and love,
Clarkdale to Camp Verde, where the river flows,
The Verde Valley ever is my home.

[VERSE 2]
Sycamores and sprawling desert willows,
Cloak the winding river with their green and golden tones,
With wildlife and birds, as the season turns,
Round the river valley, my Arizona home.

[CHORUS REPEAT]
Verde Valley, Verde Valley
An emerald in the desert, where the river goes,
While eagles soar above, this place I know and love,
Clarkdale to Camp Verde, where the river flows.
The Verde Valley ever is my home.

[VERSE 3]
There's Cottonwood and Clarkdale and Camp Verde,
and the quirky artsy mountain town Jerome,
Onward north to beautiful Sedona,
Where rocks with crimson hues by sunset glow.

[CHORUS REPEAT]
Verde Valley, Verde Valley
An emerald in the desert, where the river goes,
While eagles soar above, this place I know and love,
Clarkdale to Camp Verde, where the river flows.
The Verde Valley ever is my home.

[VERSE 4]
Place of ancient glyphs and Indian ruins,
Early settler history, and mysteries to impart,
Where purple mountains rise into the azure skies,
My home the Verde Valley is forever in my heart...

[CHORUS REPEAT]
Verde Valley, Verde Valley
An emerald in the desert, where the river goes,
While eagles soar above, this place I know and love,
Clarkdale to Camp Verde, where the river flows.
The Verde Valley ever is my home.