Acadian Driftwood

Album: Northern Lights - Southern Cross (1975)
Play Video
  • The war was over
    And the spirit was broken
    The hills were smokin'
    As the men withdrew
    We stood on the cliffs,
    Oh and watched the ships,
    Slowly sinking to their rendezvous

    They signed a treaty
    And our homes were taken
    Loved-ones forsaken,
    They didn't give a damn.
    Try to raise a family
    End up an enemy
    Over what went down on the Plains of Abraham.

    [Chorus]
    Acadian driftwood,
    Gypsy tailwind
    They call my home,
    The land of snow
    Canadian cold front,
    Movin' in
    What a way to ride,
    Oh what a way to go

    Then some returned,
    To the motherland
    The high command,
    Had them cast away
    Some stayed on,
    To finish what they started
    They never parted,
    They're just built that way

    We had kin livin',
    South of the border
    They're a little older,
    And they been around
    They wrote in a letter
    Life is a whole lot better
    So pull up your stakes, children,
    And come on down

    Acadian driftwood,
    Gypsy tailwind
    They call my home,
    The land of snow
    Canadian cold front,
    Movin' in
    What a way to ride,
    Oh what a way to go

    Fifty under zero when the day became a threat
    My clothes were wet
    And I was drenched to the bone
    Then out ice fishin', mmm,
    Too much repetition
    Make a man want to leave
    The only home he's known

    Sailed out of the Gulf,
    Headed for St. Pierre
    Nothing to declare,
    All we had was gone
    Broke down along the coast oh
    What hurt the most
    When the people there said
    "You better keep movin' on"

    Acadian driftwood,
    Gypsy tailwind
    They call my home,
    The land of snow
    Canadian cold front,
    Movin' in
    What a way to ride,
    Oh what a way to go

    Everlastin' summer
    Filled with ill-contempt
    This government
    Had us walkin' in chains
    This isn't my turn
    This isn't my season
    Can't think of one good reason
    To remain oh

    We worked in the sugar fields
    Up from New Orleans
    It was ever-green
    Up until the flood
    You could call it an omen
    Point ya where ya goin'
    Set my compass North
    I got winter in my blood

    Acadian driftwood,
    Gypsy tailwind
    They call my home,
    The land of snow
    Canadian cold front,
    Movin' in
    What a way to ride,
    Oh what a way to go

    Sais tu, Acadie j'ai le mal do pays
    Ta neige, Acadie, fait des larmes au soleil
    J'arrive Acadie, teedle um, teedle um, teedle oo
    J'arrive Acadie, teedle um, teedle um, teedle oo
    J'arrive Acadie, teedle um, teedle um, teedle oo
    J'arrive Acadie, teedle um, teedle um, teedle oo
    J'arrive Acadie, teedle um, teedle um, teedle oo Writer/s: ROBBIE ROBERTSON
    Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 1

  • Charlie from MarylandThis song is simply stunning. Perfect bookend to "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down." The Band share leads like no other group I've heard.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Jethro Tull

Jethro TullFact or Fiction

Stage urinals, flute devices, and the real Aqualung in this Fact or Fiction.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino EditionMusic Quiz

Whether he's splitting ears or burning Nazis, Quentin Tarantino uses memorable music in his films. See if you can match the song to the scene.

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillian

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillianSong Writing

A Soul Train dancer takes us through a day on the show, and explains what you had to do to get camera time.