[Intro]
All we owe
We owe Her
All we Oh!
We owe Her
All we Oh!
We owe
[Verse 1]
In the heart of Plymouth Meeting, where the past meets the present
Lies a tale of revolution, commerce, and the essence
From the birthplace of freedom to the cradle of commerce’s rise
There’s a story of creation, hidden ‘neath the azure skies
[Bridge]
In 1688, on historic ground they tread
Quakers met to forge a nation, where freedom’s flame was spread
But across the way, where shadows start to loom
Lies the genesis of industry, and nature’s impending doom
[Chorus]
Oh Plymouth Meeting, where the limekilns burn so bright
You were once the birthplace of dreams, now shrouded in the night
As the rain falls heavy, and the waters rise high
We’re left to face the consequences, of the past’s silent cry
[Break]
[Bridge]
All we owe
We owe Her
All we Oh!
We owe Her
All we Oh!
We owe
[Verse 2]
From the quarry to the railroad, the echoes still remain
Of a time when progress beckoned, with every passing train
But beneath the tracks, where the earth begins to shake
Lies the truth of our folly, a decision we can’t forsake
[Bridge]
For the limekilns of old, with their fiery breath
Released the carbon’s curse, in the dance of life and death
Now as the storms rage on, and the floods start to rise
We must reckon with our legacy, beneath the darkened skies
[Break]
[Chorus]
Oh Plymouth Meeting, where the limekilns stand tall
You once fueled a revolution, now you’re beckoning our fall
As the waters swallow, and the echoes start to fade
We’re left to ponder the cost, of the choices we have made
[Break]
[Instrumental]
[Bridge]
All we owe
We owe Her
All we Oh!
We owe Her
All we Oh!
We owe
Oh, oh, oh
[Break]
[Verse 3]
So let us heed the warning, in the rain’s relentless pour
And remember Plymouth’s lesson, from the days of yore
For in the face of climate change, we stand at a crossroads now
With the power to alter destiny, if only we’d allow
[Outro]
Oh Plymouth Meeting, may your story be a guide
To the perils of our actions, and the hope we hold inside
For in the shadow of your past, lies a path we must reclaim
To forge a future worthy, of our children’s cherished name
All we owe
We owe Her
All we Oh!
We owe Her
All we Oh!
We owe
Oh, oh, oh
…. ohhhhhhhh
[End]
[Silence]
A SCIENCE EXPERIMENT
Hypothesis: Plymouth Meeting is the cradle of climate change.
The train derailment in Plymouth Meeting (July 17, 2023) and the seven people swept away by flood waters in Washington’s Crossing (July 15, 2023) may have been influenced by the historical legacy of climate-altering activities initiated by our forefathers. During the 1600s and 1700s, the United States played a significant role in global events, including movements for freedom, abolition, revolution, and industrialization. In 1688, the establishment of a limestone quarry and limekilns in Plymouth Meeting, PA, marked a pivotal moment in human-induced global warming.
Limekilns are utilized to produce quicklime by heating limestone to temperatures exceeding 1,650 ℉. Quicklime finds applications in various industries, including agriculture, construction, and manufacturing. Prior to the introduction of limekilns, colonists relied on crushing oyster shells to obtain quicklime, a process that later contributed to funding significant historical events such as the American Revolution and the Underground Railroad.
The decomposition of limestone (CaCO3) into quicklime (CaO) during the production process emits substantial CO2 emissions, both from the combustion of fuel to heat the kiln and from the chemical reaction itself (CaCO3 –> CaO + CO2). Given quicklime’s crucial role in cement production, steel manufacturing, and other sectors, ongoing efforts are focused on reducing the carbon footprint associated with this industrial process.
The deaths and infrastructure damage resulting from these events may reflect the long-term repercussions of the cultural, economic, and environmental practices established in Plymouth Meeting centuries ago. This serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of past actions and present-day consequences, reinforcing the adage that “what goes around comes around.”