Riches Are Green

In this film, I wanted to personify the landscape of the chalky East Yorkshire Wolds where I grew up and convey a sense of kinship with nature. The Capper Pass plant, owned by Rio Tinto, operated on the outskirts of Hull from 1967 until its decommissioning in 1991. Despite being ravaged by this toxic tin smelting works, the surrounding environment and its inhabitants continued to grow—though tragically, many did not survive.

By-products released into the River Humber and the East Yorkshire air were toxic, carcinogenic, and radioactive. Radioactive emissions included Polonium-210. Even as early as the 1970s, lead and arsenic were found in cattle grazing near Capper Pass. Livestock and crops on several farms had to be condemned. It was believed that public awareness of the situation would cause alarm if the facts became widely known. The environmental damage was widespread.

Riches Are Green (lyrics)

Riches are green
The blackened pipes from the old organ lie resting on the hill, dormant
We grew up here, 'though I’d forgotten myself
The landscape has changed more than our deepest desires
We can be happy in our own skin, happy in our skin
We can be peaceful in our own beds, peaceful in our heads
We are the cows in fields, grazing – our life span is short and our meat is sweet
We’ve fallen prey to foul play, what was holy is now our loss
We can be happy in our own skin, happy in our skin
We can be peaceful in our own beds, peaceful in our heads
Riches are green, all that we need is a heartbeat like you
And what we feed the savage within will make us chime or make us cold
Is it certain that I love you? Can I watch you surrender?
Can you hear me? Can I hear you? Can you trust me? Can I trust you?
Is it certain that I love you? Can I reach you? Can you sense me? Can I breathe you in?
Riches are green, kissed by the sun, blessed by the rain.