The Island
Aselin Debison Lyrics
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Beyond these great waters, oh what do I see?
I see the great mountains
Climb from the coastline
The hills of Cape Breton, this new home of mine
Oh they come from the countries all over the world
To hack at the forest, to plow the land down
Fishermen, farmers and sailors all come
[CHORUS]
We are an island, a rock in a stream
We are a people as proud as there's been
In soft summer breeze or in wild winter winds
The home of our hearts, Cape Breton
Over the rooftops and over the trees
Within these new townships, oh what do I see?
I see the black pitheads, the coal-wheels are turning
The smokestacks are belching and the blast furnace burning
Oh the sweat on the back is no joy to behold
In the heat of the steel plant or mining the coal
And the foreign-owned companies
Force us to fight
For our survival and for our rights
[CHORUS]
Over the highways and over the roads
Over the causeway, stories are told
They tell of the coming and the going away
The cities of America draw me away
Ah the companies come, the companies go
And the ways of the world we may never know
We'll follow the footsteps of those on their way
And we'll ask for the right to leave or to stay
[CHORUS]
Aselin Debison's "The Island" is a tribute to Cape Breton, a small island in Nova Scotia, Canada that has become a melting pot of cultures as people from all over the world travel there to work and build a new life. The song is divided into three verses, each describing a different aspect of life on the island through the eyes of its inhabitants.
In the first verse, the focus is on the natural beauty of the island. Debison uses imagery to describe the landscape, with mountains climbing from the coastline, and the hills of Cape Breton representing a new home. She notes that people come from all over the world to work on the island, with fishermen, farmers, and sailors all working to clear the land for future development. The people of Cape Breton are proud of their island and their heritage and view themselves as a rock in a stream.
The second verse shifts the focus to the industrialization of the island. The new townships are home to black pitheads, and the coal-wheels are continuously turning. The smokestacks belch out pollutants while the blast furnace burns. The jobs that these factories offer are not ones of joy, with the sweat on the backs of workers being no pleasure to behold. The islanders are forced to fight for their survival and their rights since foreign-owned companies rule the island.
The final verse speaks about the people who come and go from the island. The cities of America draw people away from their homes. Companies come and go, and the people of Cape Breton can only follow the footsteps of those who came before them. They demand the right to choose if they stay or if they go.
Overall, "The Island" is a celebration of the people and the land that make up Cape Breton Island in Canada, the difficulties they have faced over the years, and their determination to make the best life they can.
Line by Line Meaning
Over an ocean and over a sea
Far and wide, across the vast waters
Beyond these great waters, oh what do I see?
What lies beyond this vast stretch of water?
I see the great mountains
Towering mountains
Climb from the coastline
Rising from the coast
The hills of Cape Breton, this new home of mine
The hills of Cape Breton, my new home
Oh they come from the countries all over the world
People from all over the world come here
To hack at the forest, to plow the land down
To clear the land for farming and building
Fishermen, farmers and sailors all come
People with different occupations come here
To clear for the future this pioneer ground
To develop and make way for the future
We are an island, a rock in a stream
We are a unique and unchanging community
We are a people as proud as there's been
We take great pride in who we are and our heritage
In soft summer breeze or in wild winter winds
In every kind of weather and in every season
The home of our hearts, Cape Breton
Our hearts are here, in Cape Breton
Over the rooftops and over the trees
Looking out over the town and beyond
Within these new townships, oh what do I see?
What do these new settlements hold for us?
I see the black pitheads, the coal-wheels are turning
The coal mines are in full operation
The smokestacks are belching and the blast furnace burning
The factories and furnaces are working hard
Oh the sweat on the back is no joy to behold
The hard labor is nothing to be desired
In the heat of the steel plant or mining the coal
The difficult work in factories or mines
And the foreign-owned companies
Companies owned by foreigners
Force us to fight
Make us resist and struggle
For our survival and for our rights
To ensure our survival and demands are met
Over the highways and over the roads
Travelling through various routes
Over the causeway, stories are told
Passing through the causeway while sharing tales
They tell of the coming and the going away
Stories of people arriving and leaving
The cities of America draw me away
The allure of American cities pulls me away
Ah the companies come, the companies go
Businesses come and go
And the ways of the world we may never know
We may never understand the reasons behind their operations
We'll follow the footsteps of those on their way
We'll follow those who have left before us
And we'll ask for the right to leave or to stay
We ask for the freedom to choose whether to leave or stay
We are an island, a rock in a stream
We are a unique and unchanging community
We are a people as proud as there's been
We take great pride in who we are and our heritage
In soft summer breeze or in wild winter winds
In every kind of weather and in every season
The home of our hearts, Cape Breton
Our hearts are here, in Cape Breton
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Aselin. I just wanted to say hello 20 years later. I was the assistant stage manager with the production of Drum in 2000 at the Parade Square in Halifax. I remember how terrified you were before every performance and I tried my best to calm you before you went on. I can still remember how you silenced the entire block with your beautiful voice. You are one of my fondest memories of that show. I'm so happy to see you are still bringing joy to people with your amazing talent.
I hope your tears have been dried ever since.
:)
mrbunsrocks
I'm not even from CB and this rendition has tears streaming down my face. GORGEOUS.
Daniel Peres
Listen to this makes me, a brazilian guy, although that's just for a while, want to be a citizen from Cape Breton. It's very moving. Her voice is sweetest I've ever heard!
pcpreacher
I love her voice, she is so talented. more than I can say.
tuppulla
I think it's wonderful to be proud of where you come from. It's pride in ourselves that can help preserve old traditions and history.
Golddoesnotglitter
2:13 best part, where they show people singing along :) shows a wonderful sense of pride
picardythirds
It's amazing what one song, one person, can do...
sky of hope
I'm from Vietnam, but I love your hometown, Cape Breton, because of this song. great song! and thanks her, great singer!
camplikeueng
just heard about her yesterday and she amazes me at once... this song's truly amazing, she's so cute, and the audience seems to love her so much. I'm wondering if she is from Cape Breton..?
RJ Spear
Just one of the many reasons I am proud to be from Nova Scotia.