This song tells the story of an explosion in September of 1940, in Kenvil, NJ. It took place at the Hercules Powder Company and killed over 50 people. It could be heard and broke windows in NYC 45 miles away. It seems to have been lost in history
I'm a singer songwriter and enjoy working with a group of other musicians to bring what I do to life in the studio. Collaboration is a key. I write a song, ge
My name is "Papa Carl"...and by the name you may be able to tell I'm not a kid. I've been around a bit. I'm fortunate to be able to work with some great musicians who support me in my endeavors. I don't have one band as such but do collaborate with a very special group of people on my music. I'm focusing on music with some kind of message. I really respect the power some singer songwriter people had during the 30's through the 60's. Music can bring about change but maybe more importantly document a time, an era. I think about things in my life, things I see and write about them. Occasionally I'll stray from that pattern and write something about an emotion or a feeling that really got to me. I'm living and loving life right now. So...I write about what I see and feel.
Story behind the song
My father, grandfather and uncle all worked at this plant...they were there on this horrendous day of tragedy and I grew up hearing about this. I lived at times with my grandparents, immigrants from Sweden and in a company house. We were poor, but oh so rich in love and spirit.
Lyrics
Left to Wonder Why
By Papa Carl, copyright 2009
In the foothills of New Jersey
Cross the Morris County line,
In September 1940
Was a dark and troubled time,
The Depression barely over
And the nation braced for war,
There came a great explosion
Like there’d never been before.
And the Thunder shook the mountain,
And the fire burned the sky
And mothers, wives, and children
Were left to mourn and cry
And the Thunder shook the mountain,
And the fire burned the sky
And mothers, wives, and children
Were left to wonder why.
The men of Hercules Company
Made the dynamite for the mines
Gunpowder for the government
And it could easily take their lives
Then on the 12th day of September
An hour past the mid-day break
They saw a flash of fire
And the earth began to quake
Most claimed it was the bundists
That did the sabotage
But it never did much matter
To the 51 who were lost.
Mothers, wives and children
Gathered round the gate
For three days they waited
To learn their loved ones fate.
And the Thunder shook the mountain,
And the fire burned the sky
And mothers, wives, and children
Were left to mourn and cry
And the Thunder shook the mountain,
And the fire burned the sky
And mothers, wives, and children
Were left to wonder why.
They never did find out
What happened on that day
And only one year later
The Nation went to war
But the men of Hercules Company
Stayed steady at their jobs
And made the smokeless powder
To fight the enemy.
And the Thunder shook the mountain,
And the fire burned the sky
And mothers, wives, and children
Were left to mourn and cry
And the Thunder shook the mountain,
And the fire burned the sky
And mothers, wives, and children
Were left to wonder why.
