View photographs and paintings of The Pink House –
Jack Garvey wrote an “As I See It” column in the Newburyport Daily News back in January 2016 titled, “House of the Rising Sea”. I was inspired to write different lyrics to the song: “House of the Rising Sun” by the Animals with Eric Burdon. Jack Garvey kindly added several verses. This song is published in the book “Keep Newburyport Weird”. The book can be bought on Amazon. Here are the new words:
The House of the Risin’ Sea
There is a house in Newbury
They call it the Pink House
And it was built ‘cause of a ruined marriage
And God I hope it’s saved
There is a writer for the New York Times
She dreamt of the Pink House
beckoned with a promise of escape
Down on the Great Salt Marsh
Now the only thing the island needs
Is a museum of history
And the only thing the Refuge wants
Is land without the house
Oh mother, tell your citizens
Not to let the house be done
Spend your lives in sin and misery
On the House of the Rising Sea
Well, I want a platform to observe
The wildlife there and
learn about The Great Salt Marsh
Not to hear that wrecking ball
There is a house in Newbury
They call the Pink House
And it was built ‘cause of a ruined marriage
And God I hope it’s saved
There is a house on Great Salt Marsh
They call the House of Pink
Alone along Plum Island’s road
Its legend is distinct
A writer for the New York Times
She wanted to move in
But when she learned why it was built
She found a tale of sin
A marriage lay in ruins
A divorce that was a fright
The wife, she won a brand new home
But hubby built in spite
Oh, that was many years ago
Before the wires and pipes
And so it began attracting
Cameras and artist types
But no one lives there anymore
And with threat of a Rising Sea
The Pink House now is targeted
For demolition soon to be
But then there is Plum Island
So rich in history
Why not let the Pink House tell it,
As the House of the Rising Sea?
Oh, Newbury, tell your people,
Not to let the house be done,
And avoid the sin and misery
That would curse us, every one
Instead, let’s add a platform
To observe the wildlife all
With plaques and charts to tell those tales
And not hear the wrecking ball
And to show the truth of climate change
We’ll re-name the House of Pink
We’ll call it the House of the Rising Sea
Even in low-tide stink
There is a house on Great Salt Marsh
They call the House of Pink
Alone along Plum Island’s road
Its legend is distinct
A writer for the New York Times
She wanted to move in
But when she learned why it was built
She found a tale of sin
A marriage lay in ruins
A divorce that was a fright
The wife, she won a brand new home
But hubby built in spite
Oh, that was many years ago
Before the wires and pipes
And so it began attracting
Cameras and artist types
But no one lives there anymore
And with threat of a Rising Sea
The Pink House now is targeted
For demolition soon to be
But then there is Plum Island
So rich in history
Why not let the Pink House tell it,
As the House of the Rising Sea?
Oh, Newbury, tell your people,
Not to let the house be done,
And avoid the sin and misery
That would curse us, every one
Instead, let’s add a platform
To observe the wildlife all
With plaques and charts to tell those tales
And not hear the wrecking ball
And to show the truth of climate change
We’ll re-name the House of Pink
We’ll call it the House of the Rising Sea
Even in low-tide stink
There is a house on Great Salt Marsh
They call the House of Pink
Alone along Plum Island’s road
Its legend is distinct
© 2018 Copyright Jack Garvey, Andrew Griffith, and Plum Island Outdoors, Inc.
