Who Will Watch Over You?
Marion Parsons’ Songbook
Home Songs (alphabetical) Songs by topic Order a CD Influences and links Contact
Little Katelynn held her wounds and cried
She was a ghost long before she died
Oh who will be watching over you?
Who will watch over you?
Doors are closed, hell is out of view
Oh who will be watching over you?
Mother thought she had a friend
Never trust another soul again
Oh who will be watching over you?
Who will watch over you?
Tried to keep you from the life she knew
Oh who will be watching over you?
Family judge was short on time
Had no notion of a life of crime
Oh who will be watching over you?
Who will watch over you?
One more crack, another fallen through
Oh who will be watching over you?
Twenty years a cop he’s been
This young body is the worst he’s seen
Oh who will be watching over you?
Who will watch over you?
Come too late, and not a thing to do
Oh who will be watching over you?
Parkdale church is crowded tight
Singing, “they are precious in his sight,”
Oh who will be watching over you?
Who will watch over you?
Went and broke a city’s heart in two
Oh who will be watching over you?
Who will watch over you?
When doors are closed and hell is out of view
Oh who will be watching over you?
Chords: (4/4)
G
Little Katelynn held her wounds and cried
G C
She was a ghost long before she died
G D G
Oh who will be watching over you?
G
Who will watch over you?
G C
Doors are closed, hell is out of view
G D G
Oh who will be watching over you?
-
•Lyrics © 2008, music traditional
-
•True story of a young girl abused and murdered by a custodial parent
-
•Set to the melody “Death of Louis Collins”
-
•See below for comments and chords
Katelynn Sampson was a seven year old Toronto girl who was found dead in 2008 with wounds indicating extensive abuse. Her mother had given custody to a friend while she was dealing with a substance addiction; the family court signed off on this arrangement without checking the friend’s background, which involved a history of violence. For more information, see this newspaper article.
The melody is “Death of Louis Collins” and was also used by Utah Phillips for his song “Collie Wilkins”; you can hear the tune at Youtube here.