Music Video

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Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
The Band
The Band
Performer
Byron Berline
Byron Berline
Fiddle
Robbie Robertson
Robbie Robertson
Acoustic Guitar
Garth and Maud Hudson
Garth and Maud Hudson
Accordion
Levon Helm
Levon Helm
Drums
Richard Manuel
Richard Manuel
Vocals
Rick Danko
Rick Danko
Vocals
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Robbie Robertson
Robbie Robertson
Composer
François Cousineau
François Cousineau
Translation
Marcel Lefebure
Marcel Lefebure
Translation
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
The Band
The Band
Producer
Ron McMaster
Ron McMaster
Mastering Engineer
Andrew Sandoval
Andrew Sandoval
Mastering Engineer

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
The war was over and the spirit was broken
The hills were smokin' as the men withdrew
We stood on the cliffs
Ooh, 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 the 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
[Verse 2]
Then, some returned to the motherland
The high command had them cast away
Yeah, some stayed on to finish what they started
They never parted
They're just built that way
[Verse 3]
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"
[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
[Verse 4]
Fifteen 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 wanna leave the only home he's known
[Verse 5]
Sailed out of the Gulf
Headin' for St. Pierre
Nothin' to declare
All we had was gone
Broke down along the coast, oh
But what hurt the most
When the people there said
"You better keep movin' on"
[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
[Verse 6]
Everlasting summer filled with ill contempt
This government
Had us walkin' in chains
This isn't my turn
This ain't my season
Can't think of one good reason to remain, oh
[Verse 7]
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
[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
[Outro]
Sais tu, Acadie
J'ai le mal du pais
Ta neige, Acadie
Fait des larmes au soleil
J'arrive, Acadie
Teedle um, teedle um, teedle ooh
J'arrive, Acadie
Teedle um, teedle um, teedle ooh
J'arrive, Acadie
Teedle um, teedle um, teedle ooh
J'arrive, Acadie
Teedle um, teedle um, teedle ooh
Written by: Robbie Robertson
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