Tom (Mel Gibson) and Mae (Sissy Spacek) are a hard working farming couple living with their two children on the east Tennessee farm owned by Tom's family for generations. They and many of their neighbors have hit hard times of late. A downturn in the economy has led to dwindling land prices. But the biggest problem of late has been that their crop land has been prone to flooding as the property is adjacent to a river.

To match the homespun down-to-earthness of the film, Williams responded with a score which is similarly inspired by the simple folks who inhabit much of America’s rural heartland. Written for a full orchestra with highlighted solo performances for Jim Walker’s flute, Warren Luening’s trumpet and Tommy Tedesco’s guitar, Williams wrote four distinct themes for the film, each representing a different aspect of the Garvey family’s life, which weave in and out of each cue, with different instrumental leads and contrapuntal ideas. The four themes are presented consecutively in the album’s opening overture.

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